Following another year of restrictions and uncertainty, the winter holidays are approaching fast and many have plans to celebrate with friends and family. With gifts nicely wrapped and travel plans arranged, it is important to set aside some time to make sure your apartment will be safe while you are away. Taking a few minutes before you leave to check your renters insurance is up to date and covers all the expensive personal belongings, will help prevent additional stress to an already hectic period.
If you are planning on traveling this holiday season, here’s a checklist of what to do before you close the door and go on holiday:
- Check all electronics, including holiday decorations and lights, and see if they are unplugged and gas stoves are turned off before leaving. Always make sure all possible heat sources have been switched off. Statistically, the holidays rank high on insurance claims due to fire damage.
- Inspect the windows. Even if they might have been firmly closed since the degrees started to drop, it is a good idea to make sure all windows are locked, the blinds are closed and the curtains are pulled. This prevents anyone from peeking inside and noticing there is no one home.
- Invest in home automation. Consider installing Amazon Alexa, Google Nest Hub or any other smart home device to keep an eye on the home while you’re away, or even simulating that someone is inside.
- Remove the spare key if you keep one by the door. While you might think the secret spot is unknown to everyone but you, keeping a key near the front door is providing intruders with an easy way in. Also, this is an essential step since having a key to the door in an easily accessible location could invalidate your renters insurance policy. If you feel more comfortable having an extra key, try leaving a spare one with someone you trust that lives nearby.
- Postpone those selfies. Even if it is very tempting to share your precious moments with loved ones as soon as you see them, it is a smart choice to wait until you are back home to post photos. According to Times Magazine, 78% of intruders use social media to search for their next victim. Waiting to share for after you get back home might help you avoid a dangerous situation.
