Whether visiting your in-laws or taking a tropical vacation during the holidays, you will likely leave your home and most of your belongings unattended while you are away. Recent research suggests that if you are like many Americans, you may not be doing enough to protect your possessions while traveling.
According to a study conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Selective Insurance, 59% of homeowners in the U.S. have a home security system or device, but less than half (49%) use one to protect their vacant homes while on vacation.
However, most homeowners take some security measures before leaving for extended periods. For example, 68% lock all windows when leaving town. Other precautions include asking someone to check the house (61%), setting lights on timers (39%), turning off the water (21%), and hiring a house sitter (13%).
Still, risk experts say that ideally, you should have a system that monitors for break-ins and other incidents, including fires and flooding caused by storms or leaking pipes.
“Vacations are a great time to create new memories, but they are quickly forgotten if you return to a damaged or burglarized home. Taking sensible home security precautions before you leave is just as important as packing the right things,” says Allen Anderson, senior vice president of Personal Lines at Selective Insurance. “Our research shows that home security systems and devices are widely underutilized in the country, but they are powerful tools to mitigate burglaries in vacant homes, fires, and water leaks.”
According to Anderson, here are some measures you can take this holiday travel season for greater peace of mind:
• Install and use a smart home security system or device. This provides a vital line of defense and can save you money. Many insurers, including Selective Insurance, offer discounts on homeowners insurance for clients with professionally monitored security systems.
• Lock the garage and all doors and windows – and double-check.
• Install outdoor lights. Use an automatic timer to turn on indoor and outdoor lights and give your home the appearance of occupancy.
• Suspend mail, package, and newspaper deliveries.
• Store your valuable belongings.
• Consider waiting until you return from your trip to share vacation photos on social media, or use privacy settings to control who sees your posts.
• Turn off all unnecessary electronics.
• Take all house keys with you, or leave one with a trusted friend to check your home while you are away.
• Turn off the water! Some of the most frequent and costly homeowner claims are due to water damage.
For more home protection tips, visit selective.com.
When making your holiday travel plans, think beyond airfare and hotel bookings. Make sure your plans also include protecting your home in your absence.
Source: StatePoint