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Protecting Your Home While Away

Vacations offer a wonderful way to unwind, see new places and live in a surreal world. In order to enjoy your well-deserved time off, it’s important to have measures in place to protect your investment, your home. Fortunately, if you utilize the latest technology and common sense, you’ll have a much better chance of keeping your home and the contents safe.

Protecting Your Home
Protecting Your Home

Adequate Insurance

A few weeks prior to your departure, it’s a good idea to review your homeowner’s insurance policy to make sure that you have adequate coverage in place. If you’re uncertain about anything, contact the homeowner’s insurance company and have them explain what the policy provides. You should also let them know that you will be away for a few weeks.

Benefits of a Security System

Unlike just a decade ago, today’s home security systems are high tech. They come standard with many benefits and often allow you to add on additional options. The cameras produce pictures of high-definition, giving you the ultimate clarity, which can help the authorities identify someone on the property. Some of the newer features can include an app that lets you view your home from almost anywhere.

Smart Home

Over the last few years, more people have been slowly transforming their homes into smart homes. Maybe you have considered it but didn’t want to spend the extra money. Smart home features aren’t just convenient when you’re home, they are fantastic while at work or even on vacation. For instance, you can set the lights to come on and go off, randomly, change the setting on your thermostat and take a look around the property to see if anyone is there, all from your phone.

Eliminate Running Water

Most people remove perishables from the home prior to their vacation and spend time cleaning it so they can return and relax. However, water is something that is almost always forgotten. Anything can happen suddenly while you’re away and a pipe burst can cause extensive damage to your home’s interior. Initially, it will flood your basement or first level. But, honestly, it’s the second stage, the moisture present that causes more damage. Standing water leads to mold and mildew and, if left long enough, a compromised home structure. In this instance, you’re talking about tens of thousands potentially in damage. Shutting off the main water will prevent this from happening.

Private Vacation

In this day of social media, it seems a vacation is something you alert the media about for several weeks ahead of time. In addition, many people post daily photos of the places they visit and the fun they have along the way. While it’s great that technology makes it easy to do this, bad people look for clues that someone is away. Revealing it on social media provides information as to where you are and how long you’ll be away. Robbers prey on this and this gives them a way to enter without you there.

Video Doorbell

One of the newest technologies is the video doorbell. In addition to your smart home features, this item allows you to view your front steps and answer the front door while on vacation. The downloadable app sends a message to your phone each time the doorbell rings. Some models also give you the option of having motion detectors. It offers reinforcement of other security measures in place that could thwart an attempted burglary.

Common Sense

There are also many common-sense things that you should do to protect your home while away. This can include notifying the post office to hold your mail, securing all loose outdoor furnishings and accessories, and letting a close neighbor know the date of your departure and return.

Your home is your largest investment and a place of comfort for you and your family. You keep your family safe on vacation and you should do the same for your home while away. By combining smart home features, a security system and notifying your neighbor of the time frame, you’ll improve your odds of eliminating theft or damage while away.