A home in my neighborhood was recently burglarized.
In broad daylight!
In the middle of the day!
And police officers live right next door and across the
street!
So home safety is on my mind more than usual, especially
with the holidays coming up and many of my clients heading out of town. Set your mind at ease when you leave with these tips for a secure holiday:
Lock Up. Before
you leave the house for vacation, make sure that all your doors and windows are
locked, including the door from your garage into your house. Make sure that
valuables and important papers are locked up and that all firearms also have a
trigger lock with the serial numbers recorded somewhere safe. Store your
spare key with a neighbor or friend rather than in the flower pot.
Light Up. Set
a few lights on a timer to turn on and off and leave a radio on so your house
looks and sounds occupied.
Unplug. Unhook
your washing machine and unplug all of your electronics and the toaster and
coffee maker. Unplug or lock automatic garage door openers (The burglars in my neighborhood
gained access through the garage door.). You can turn down the heat, but keep
it above 55 degrees to keep your pipes from freezing. Turn off the ringer to
your home phone.
Shut Up. Don’t tip would-be thieves off that you’re not home. As hard as it might be,
refrain from posting your vacation pictures until after you return from your
trip. Be careful what you say on your outgoing voicemail and email auto reply. “I’m
out of the office” is much better than ”I’m in Hawaii for two weeks!”
Leave No Clues.
Place a vacation hold on your mail and newspaper and ask a neighbor to keep an
eye out for any unexpected deliveries. Don’t leave your trashcan sitting at the curb
for a week, either! Arrange for someone to shovel your driveway if it snows or
park their vehicle in your driveway.
Just in Case. When
I worked in personal lines property and casualty insurance I always recommended
my clients do an annual walk through of their own home with a video recorder,
taking particular note of items of value. It is also a good idea to scan copies
of important paperwork, like passports, birth certificates, insurance policies.
Email all of this to yourself or store on a cloud server. In the event of fire
or a break in, you can access easily the information to help with your claims.
Drive Safely. If
you’re taking a road trip, make sure that your car is prepared by checking
brakes, spark plugs, battery and tires and making sure that all of your
essential fluids are topped off. Also have a winter “survival kit” in the
vehicle with kitty litter, chains, ice scraper, shovel, reflective triangles or
flares, and a flashlight, matched, and some non-perishable, high energy foods. Tell
someone where you’re going and what your route will be – plan to check in when
you’ve arrived safely at your destination and call to confirm your hotel accommodations 48 hours in advance.
Be Smart. As
always, be aware when you travel – don’t carry every credit card and tons of
cash in your wallet and leave that social security card in the lockbox or
safety deposit box. Be wise about using
WiFi on public networks and don't check anything important when flying in your luggage, always carry the good stuff with you. Also
pack your patience and allow plenty of time.
Phone a friend.
For free help planning your next vacation, please contact me!
More travel tips available
on my blog.