The travel season is here. Whether you travel to Virginia’s gorgeous beaches, camp along the Blue Ridge, or travel outside the state, anything from home burglary and vandalism to severe weather can happen. The last thing you want is to worry about something happening at home while you’re away. It's best to plan ahead to stay in the know, protect your home from potential theft, and prevent damage from becoming more serious and costly because you are away.
How to protect your home while on vacation
We’ve seen enough home insurance claims from unexpected catastrophes to know what makes your home the most vulnerable, especially when you're not there to intervene. You can protect your property while you’re on vacation by consider these four simple tips:
1. Shut off your home's main water supply
2. Prevent Electrical Issues and Fire
Electrical issues are a leading cause of home safety incidents, particularly when your home is unoccupied and early warning signs go unnoticed. They cause billions of dollars in property damage each year due to power surges and malfunctions. The good news is there are easy everyday things you can do to protect home from electrical issues and fire and a few extra precautions you can take before you travel.
To protect your home while you are away, unplug your large appliances, like your clothes dryer and expensive electronics, and even small appliances, like your coffee pot, to protect against electrical malfunctions. This reduces the risk of appliance damage due to power surges from severe weather as well. Unplugging devices eliminates “phantom” energy consumption, lowering your electricity bill as well! Large electrical appliances that remain plugged in should be in top-notch condition with no unusual noises or excessive heat output. Inspect the cords and plugs for signs of wear or damage, replacing or repairing as necessary to avoid electrical issues while you’re away. You can check to see if your water heater has a “vacation” setting. Activating this mode keeps the water at a lower temperature, saving energy without allowing the water to stagnate.
Give your electrical panel a quick inspection. Look for signs of wear, damage, loose wires, and that there are no tripped breakers or blown fuses in your electrical panel. If you notice anything unusual, consider scheduling a professional inspection before your vacation.
Leave your HVAC system on using programmable or smart thermostats. Unless you have pets staying at home while you're away, set the thermostat to 55 F during the winter to prevent the pipes from freezing. Setting it to 85 F during the summer will prevent excessive heat from building up the home while saving significant energy.
3. Spare keys and smart locks
The front door mat or flowerpot is the first place a thief will look for a housekey when you’re away. A potential burglar has plenty of time to hunt around for even less obvious hiding places when you're on vacation. A trusted neighbor or friend is a better place for a spare key for travel away from home or occasional emergencies.
Smart locks are an increasingly common part of home security systems. While we like the innovation of smart home technology, check into the software/application thoroughly before purchasing. The technology has developed much faster than security protection against hacking. Make sure you're on a secure network or your cellular data when using the app, change your passwords regularly, and use two-factor authentication whenever possible. And remember we provide a home insurance discount for security devices like deadbolt locks and whole-house security systems. Let your local agent know!
4. Watch what and when you share on social media.
As tempting as it is to “check-in” to vacation venues on social media, remember that you’re also broadcasting to friends and friends of friends that you’ve checked out of your home. Share vacation details and pictures after you get home from your vacation and encourage your kids to do the same. It may not be as fun, but it's much better for your security.
5. Count on your neighbors you can trust
Strong Virginia communities are built on neighbors helping each other. This is especially true when you can enlist a set of protective eyes and ears to watch your home while you're away. They know what belongs and doesn't belong in the neighborhood- the strange parked car or someone walking behind the house. They can bring in any packages that get delivered to your home, safely hold that spare key, and access your home if there’s an emergency while you’re away. Don’t forget to leave them with a couple of good contact numbers to reach you on vacation.
Other ways to protect your home when traveling
Preparing your home for vacation in other small ways will give you peace of mind so you can enjoy your time away.
Vacation checklist for your home:
- Service your HVAC system before you travel
- Use motion-activated sensors on outdoor floodlights
- Consider getting a timer that can adjust the indoor to an on/off schedule.
- Stop your mail or have a trusted neighbor collect it daily
- Block first floor windows and lock window well covers around the basement
- Lock pet doors
- Secure your valuables
- Arrange lawn care
- Park vehicles left behind in the garage or driveway
- Secure and lock fence gates
- Secure exteriors items in case of severe weather
- Alert your security company of your travel plans
- Consider using a house sitter
Does Home Insurance Cover Theft?
Both homeowners insurance and renters insurance include loss protection from theft in your home. The amount of insurance coverage you have will depend on your policy limits and the type of coverage. Here's how your home insurance protects you from a theft claim:
- Damage to your Home. Coverage for repairs to your house if damaged in a break-in, like broken windows and doors.
- Damage to your personal property. Coverage to repair or replace your personal belongings if they are damaged or stolen.
- Other structures coverage. Coverage to repair detached structures on your property, like a shed door damaged in a break-in.
We also highly recommend making a home inventory of your belongings to help facilitate a speedier claims process if you happen to have a home insurance claim this summer.
THE NORTHERN NECK INSURANCE INTEGRITY PROMISE — We pledge to provide straight talk and good counsel from our NNINS Virginia insurance experts through our blog. While we hope you find this to be a helpful source of information, it does not replace the guidance of a licensed insurance professional, nor does it modify the terms of your Northern Neck Insurance policy in any way. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy.
