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Are you and your family taking a vacation this summer? Preparing for trips can be overwhelming. With lots of planning and packing to do beforehand, it can be easy to forget about home safety in the process. No one wants to come home after a wonderful, relaxing trip, to their home burglarized or damaged due to an accident. We’ve got a few tips to help make sure you leave on your vacation with the peace of mind you will return to your home intact.
Unplug appliances
This may seem like a no-brainer, but home fires can start so quickly from an appliance that was left plugged in. It only takes seconds for flames to engulf your home. Remember to unplug all appliances (aside from your fridge) that won't be used when leaving the house for an extended amount of time. Surge protectors are a great way to unplug multiple devices at one time.
Remove spare keys
Hide-a-keys are great in theory, but they pose a huge threat, allowing burglars to quickly enter your home. Make sure to remove all your spare keys or access keys from outside. Remember that thieves can easily find your most secret hiding spots. After all, they have experience looking for them.
Keep social media posts to a minimum
It’s commonplace these days to brag about your super awesome vacations on social media, but be aware of who you are sharing your posts with . If you have a public profile, or you have enabled your posts to be viewed by anyone, you are putting yourself at risk to have a stranger know when you are or aren't in your home. Make sure you only share your posts with those that you trust!
Have a trusted eye
If you have a neighbor or relative that can come by to check on your home a few times while you are gone, this will be helpful, too. Make sure this person is reliable and trustworthy. Having an extra set of eyes of things not only gives you the peace of mind but ensures that your home will be safe and sound when you return.
Technology is your friend
Owning a home security system or camera is an excellent way to monitor the safety of your home from far away. Security cameras are advanced these days and often come with the ability to monitor your home from an app on your smartphone. You can find moderately priced, wifi-enabled security cameras starting around $100 online. Security systems, on the other hand, will cost you a bit more, but will come with added features like contacting authorities in the case of a break-in.
Have questions about an upcoming trip and your homeowners insurance policy? If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask! At Harrell Insurance, we're proud to be your go-to insurance agent in Central Florida.
