With the holidays right around the corner, it’s important to think proactively about keeping your home safe. It is easy to let your guard down during the hustle and bustle of this time of year. You are so wrapped up in the season of giving that you forget to keep yourself and your home protected. From discarding your gift boxes appropriately to making sure your Christmas decorations are up to code, we are sharing a few easy steps to keeping your home safe this holiday season.
Picture this...
It’s Christmas morning; you and your kids have unwrapped all of your gifts. The kids received a PlayStation, your wife received an expensive designer handbag, and you, that 70-inch flatscreen TV you’ve been eyeing for the past year. After all the excitement of the gift-exchange fades away, you naturally begin the tedious task of cleaning up. Wrapping paper is balled up and tossed in the trash, plastic packaging discarded, and the boxes, some too large for the bin are left nonchalantly by your garbage can. BINGO, you have now just become an easy target for burglary.
Avoid becoming a target
Thieves think: “This family had a great Christmas with all those extravagant gifts; they are the perfect home to ransack.” Well, we have one simple suggestion on how you can protect yourself from becoming an easy target. All you have to do is take the extra step to cut up large boxes into smaller pieces that can easily be placed inside your recycling container. This little precaution can help keep your home safe from a potential robbery.
Fire safety is key
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care … and hopefully not too close to an open flame. A warm fire burning in the fireplace is perfect for the holiday season, but there are risks to be had. A fire left unattended can easily cause serious damage; one small spark of an ember could catch your decorations on fire or even your beautiful tree. Keeping your fireplace clean of debris and ash can help to reduce potential fire hazards as well. Another suggestion is to be diligent with watering your Christmas tree. According to the National Fire Prevention Association, “between 2013-2017, US fire departments responded to an average of 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year,” and a dry, dead tree is much more susceptible to catching fire in the event of a faulty string of Christmas lights. Does the thought of having a real tree intimidate you? Artificial trees pose a much smaller safety hazard than live trees. All that’s missing from this scenario is the smell of pine. Luckily, you can use an essential oil blend to bring back that holiday cheer.
Securing your home for a holiday getaway
Perhaps your holiday plans are to take a family vacation instead. Planning and packing for a long trip can be overwhelming, but you still need to make sure your home is protected before you go into full vacation mode. A suggestion we have is leaving a light on to make your home appear as if someone is still there. We also advise that you let a trustworthy neighbor know that you will be gone, and ask that they keep an eye out for anything suspicious while you are away. If you have the funds, you can always invest in a Ring doorbell system. It is easy to install and motion-activated so you can keep a close eye on anyone who approaches or visits your house, even when you are miles away.
We know the holidays are usually a crazy time, so just make sure that you are taking as many precautions as you can to keep your home safe from intruders, fires, and unwanted thieves. If you have questions on how you can keep your home safe this holiday season, we are here to help! Harrell Agency Services is proud to be your go-to insurance agent in Central Florida.
