How to secure your home when you go on holiday

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The thought of jetting off to the sun for a well-deserved break fills most of us with positivity, but it can be difficult to relax knowing you are leaving your home empty for long periods of time, especially if you are heading abroad. However, Allianz Your Cover suggests five measures you can take to secure your home when you go on holiday, so all you have to concern yourself with is your tanning tactics.

Home Insurance

The first thing is to make sure you have a suitable home insurance policy. This will give peace of mind that if the worst should happen, you will be covered. Before you pack, double check what your house insurance covers and that the policy is in date.

Lock things away

It seems obvious but, with all the excitement of getting ready for a holiday, some homeowners forget to lock even external windows and doors. Also, it is a good idea to lock away valuables and expensive items. If you have a safe then be sure to make use of it. At the very least you should move costly items out of the line of sight of the window.

Neighbours

Some of us have great neighbours, and if you can’t get a house sitter, these can be a valuable resource in keeping your home secure while you’re away. Leave a key with a trusted neighbour and have them open and close your curtains, collect any mail and park on your driveway. All of these things will help to give the impression that the house is still occupied and thus deter potential thieves.

Lighting

Another way of making your home look occupied is to purchase timers. Fit them to devices such as lamps and radios and have them come on when it gets dark. If you have security lights outside your home make sure these are switched to the motion sensitive setting, as this will help to deter unwanted visitors.

Technology

Updating Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare with your holiday plans can be dangerous, as thieves are becoming more technology savvy in identifying their targets. Four out of five people convicted of burglary in 2011 said that social media websites are being used to gather intelligence on when people are away from their homes. Make sure you have high security settings, your home insurance covers everything you want it to and avoid putting up holiday snaps or status updates until you’re safely back in your home.