Secure your home while you head out on vacation.
Ah, summer. Now that the weather is sunny in New York, many of us are looking forward to our summer vacations. However, many of us forget to adequately protect our homes while we head across the state or abroad. To help you get started and keep your home safe from intruders, check out these tips.
Ask a friend. If you have a friend or a trusted neighbor who lives nearby, ask them to keep an eye on your house. He or she can feed the pet, water the plants, bring in the mail, and pick up the newspapers on the doorstep to avoid any unwanted attention.
Lay low on social media. Although it’s exciting to post pictures or check in using social media, it’s a great invitation for thieves to take your belongings. It’s safer to post your vacation snaps when you’re back at home. Have a conversation with your kids, too, since their social network may be larger than yours.
Maintain your lawn. Nothing says “I’m away” like an unkempt lawn. While you’re on vacation, have a lawn maintenance service visit your home and mow the lawn while you’re gone.
Unplug electronics. You never know if a power surge will occur, so it’s best to be prepared. Unplug all of your electronics and appliances (minus the fridge and freezer) to protect them from a potential power surge.
Consider a home monitoring system. Smart systems are able to tell homeowners exactly what they want to know about the safety of their home. Besides fire and theft protection, every time a window or door opens, the system can notify you. This can tell you if someone unsuspected is on the property, and you can call the local authorities from there.
Fortunately, homeowners insurance is there to protect your home when you need coverage the most. Visit the independent insurance professionals, Perry & Carroll, for all of your insurance needs in Elmira and neighboring cities in New York.