Nothing can tarnish your peace of mind like wondering if your property is secure while you’re away. At Penny Insurance Agency, our goal is to protect the life you have built for yourself and your loved ones while giving you a peace of mind. If the life you’ve built allows you to travel frequently, or occupy multiple properties, be sure to implement these steps to optimally secure your home while you’re away.
1. Check Your Insurance Policy
Talk with your insurance agency and verify that all of your specific needs for your property are taken care of. With a robust policy and an agency you can trust, your worries will fade and you’ll be able to truly enjoy your time away. Be specific when speaking with your insurance agents, and ask thorough questions. Penny Insurance is licensed in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Texas to better serve our client’s unique vacation home needs.
2. Install Security Systems
Do your research and select the best security system for your property. A large majority of modern security systems allow you to check-in on your home remotely and frequently from the convenience of your smartphone, and even detect activity around your place and give you notifications. Even the seemingly minute detail of having a security system sign in your yard or a visible camera can also deflect intruders. Investing in a solid security system is worth it, especially for vacation homes.
3. Make Your Home Appear Occupied
Whether it’s befriending nearby neighbors and asking them to check on your property, hiring a landscaper to trim the bushes, or installing light timers in your home, make it a conscious effort to make your property look occupied. Simple efforts like these can make a big difference and give the appearance that you’ve only left for a few hours and will be returning soon. Also, remember to transfer your mail to your main residence, as a pile of mail can indicate vacancy.
4. Check Your Locks
This may seem obvious, but simple efforts like double-checking that windows, doors, and other entry points are shut and properly locked is a common mistake when heading off on vacation. It’s tedious, but checking each and every entry point can save you a lot of headache later on down the road. If you haven’t already, add stronger locks where you can and more of them. Move any obviously expensive items that might intrigue intruders away from the windows and secure them in safes. Another rookie mistake is leaving a key to the house under the welcome mat, or under an item in the front yard. Intruders know to look in these common spots, so it’s best to just keep an extra key in your personal bag or give one to a trusted neighbor or friend.
Implementing these simple steps for better home security will keep you at ease and allow you to enjoy the life you have built. If you would like to learn more about vacation home insurance, our agents at Penny Insurance would love to speak with you and customize a plan for your unique needs. Give us a call or fill out our online contact form.
Sources:
https://www.iii.org/article/insuring-a-vacation-home
https://reolink.com/top-3-clever-tips-to-secure-vacation-second-home/