Summer is well on its way and that means vacation time! Since people will be traveling a lot it’s very important to make sure that your home, and the belongings that you leave in it while you are away, will be safe and secure! Here are some tips from the experts for making sure that your home will be protected so that you can rest easy on your week or two away (http://www.namic.org/consumer/secure.asp, http://www.homeenvy.com/db/4/534.html, http://traveltips.usatoday.com/protect-home-traveling-1666.html):
- Arrange to have a trusted neighbor or friend pick up your mail and any packages you may receive; if the mailbox gets too full, it’s a clear sign that no one is around. And don’t put your trash at the end of the driveway a week early
- It’s not necessary (or a good idea) to tell everyone you know that you will be gone, word will spread and that’s not necessarily the kind of attention you are looking for
- Have a neighbor park their car at your house and move it from time to time
- Set your house alarm if you have one, or at least put a sticker in the window alluding to the fact that an alarm may be set (even having someone house-sit for part of the time, if that is an option for you, is a great idea)
- Unplug your overhead garage door opener, and any electronics that do not need to stay plugged in while you are away (setting a few lamps in different rooms to timers is also a good idea, this can also be done with TV’s and radios) and turn down heat/air conditioning to save energy
- Pull curtains and blinds closed on the back side of the house and semi-closed on the street side so that it does not appear significantly out of the ordinary (you don’t want to draw attention to your home)
- Hide/secure all valuables! “Out of sight, out of mind”, as my Dad always says!
- Make sure all doors and windows are locked but leave a key (and itinerary) with a trusted neighbor or friend in case of emergency
- Put away all ladders and/or tools which could assist someone in getting into your home and make sure motion sensors are high enough up to avoid being tampered with
- Have someone keep an eye on your landscaping: have the lawn mowed if the grass gets too long, the walkways should be shoveled and kept clear of leaves the way they normally would be if you were home, trim shrubs (before leaving) to avoid providing hiding spots for anyone with bad intentions
Essentially, you want your house to look as though someone is still home and you don’t want to provide an opportunity for someone to break in. After you have checked all of these things off of your list, it’s time to travel, have fun and enjoy your time away with the peace of mind that your items are secured!
And for that little bit of extra protection, talk to your Encharter Insurance agent about Massachusetts Homeowner’s Insurance today! And, of course, if you have any questions about Massachusetts Car Insurance, Massachusetts Life Insurance, Massachusetts Business Insurance or any other kind of insurance, we’d like to help with that too! You can call us at 888-865-1244, you can visit our virtual insurance office at www.encharter.com or you can visit our insurance office in Amherst MA, our insurance office in Lexington MA or our insurance office in Reading MA. And now, you can find us on Twitter© and Facebook©!
At Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”
No Comments on "Going on Vacation? Protect Your Home and Rest Easy!"