As you prepare for your vacation, it’s essential to take precautions to protect your home from break-ins, water damage, and other unpleasant surprises. According to Larry Anderson, director of underwriting operations for Mercury Insurance, “A vacation should end with great memories, not an unexpected repair bill.”
10 Steps to Vacation-Proof Your Home
Here are 10 steps to help you protect your home while you’re away:
- Lock all doors, gates, and windows, including outbuildings like sheds and detached garages.
- Automate your lights to give your home a lived-in look, using timers or smart devices to turn lights on and off throughout the day.
- Hold your mail and packages, or arrange for a trusted neighbor to collect them, to prevent porch pirates and overflowing mail from signaling that no one is home.
- Consider shutting off your home’s main water supply to prevent major plumbing issues.
- Set your thermostat to maintain a safe indoor temperature, ideally between 55-60 F in winter and 85 F in summer.
- Test your smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and leak sensors, and replace batteries as needed.
- Ask a trusted person to check in on your home, either by giving them a key or asking them to keep an eye on the property from the outside.
- Be social-media savvy and avoid posting about your vacation until you return, to avoid advertising that your home is empty.
- Tidy up your outdoor spaces to give the impression that someone is home and cares about the property.
- Review your homeowners insurance policy to ensure you know what it covers and how to reach your insurance company in case of an incident.
By following these steps, you can enjoy a worry-free vacation and return home to a safe and secure property.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
