Experts warn holiday-makers to batten down the hatches before leaving home

Home insurance experts at Go.Compare are warning those looking forward to a summer holiday to secure their home before leaving, as doing so could prevent unwelcome surprises on the return journey.

There are several ways to protect your home while you’re away and deter burglars, and making sure your home is properly secured is also an essential in terms of your home insurance - as your provider could refuse to accept your claim if they believe the proper precautions have not been taken.

Nathan Blackler, Go.Compare home insurance spokesperson, has ten helpful tips to improve your home security while away:

“Before you fully get into holiday mode, it’s worth taking some time to secure your home and any valuable belongings, as the last thing any of us want is to come home to a mess or missing items. We recommend:

1. Hide the signs that your home is unoccupied - empty houses are easy targets for burglars, so make sure to cancel regular deliveries, ask a trusted person to collect the post, and set automatic timers for lights to go on and off. Leaving a car in the driveway can also give the impression someone is home.
2. Secure windows and doors - close everything and make sure all locks are approved by your insurer. This will help you to avoid any issues in case you need to make a claim.
3. Hide your valuables - tuck away anything with value, like car keys and jewellery, so it can’t be spotted by opportunistic thieves.
4. Upgrade your home security - consider investing in extra security measures, like a smart doorbell with a camera, or insurer-approved alarms.
5. Keep your plans on the down-low - don’t broadcast the dates you’ll be away online. As tempting as it is, try to avoid posting holiday snaps on social media while you’re away as this could alert thieves that your home is unoccupied.
6. Lock tools and ladders away - these can be taken advantage of by thieves to access your home if left out in the open.
7. Loop in trusted neighbours - if you are close with your neighbours, tell them about your trip. They might also be happy to help water plants, collect mail and help to make your house look occupied while you’re away.
8. Unplug unnecessary appliances - turning off and disconnecting things like your TV, lamps, microwave and other appliances is a good security measure and helps decrease the risk of a fire, as well as making sure you’re not having any unnecessary energy consumption. However, make sure to keep fridges and freezers running as they may cause a mess if turned off - as well as spoiling any food inside.
9. Turn off the water - use your home’s stopcock to turn off the water supply, to reduce the risk of leaks and water damage.
10. Check your home insurance - make sure both your contents and buildings insurance are valid before you go away, as this will protect you in case of an emergency. It’s also worth checking if your policy has a limit on how long you can go away - as some won’t cover your home if it’s left unoccupied for longer than 30 days.

“If you aren’t sure your home insurance provides enough cover for your trip - for instance, if you plan to stay longer than the unoccupied limit, or you need extra cover for specific valuables you plan to take away with you - then speak to your insurer. It may well be possible to extend or enhance your cover to give you the security you need.

“Of course, if you don’t already have home insurance in place, we recommend taking a look well in advance of your trip. Using a comparison site can help you compare the different levels of cover available quickly, as well as helping you find a great price.

Read Go.Compare’s guide to protecting your home while on holiday, here: https://www.gocompare.com/home-insurance/guide/how-to-protect-your-home-when-you-go-on-holiday/.

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