Protecting your home when you’re away

Planning a fun summer vacation?

There’s something you may want to do before you pack your bags. With many people taking vacations in the warmer months, it means there are more homes sitting vacant, leaving properties more vulnerable to security breaches. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department produced a video and checklist to offer homeowners tips on protecting their properties from break-ins while on vacation. These tips are also great to pass along to clients who have moved but still have a vacant home on the market.

“The Memorial Day holiday signals the traditional start of summer, and with most schools about to begin summer break, Pennsylvanians will very soon be hitting the road for summer vacations,” Insurance Department Commissioner Jessica Altman said. “Before leaving for a trip, there are steps homeowners can take to lessen the chance of a break-in and perhaps save on their homeowners’ insurance as well.”

Making a home a less enticing target, whether the owners are on vacation or the home has been sold but remains vacant until the new owner moves in, is one way to discourage break-ins and potentially lower homeowners’ insurance. Ways of doing this include:

• Installing deadbolt locks on doors. These can slow a burglar’s ability to enter a home, and in some cases, can lead to a discount on insurance.  Homeowners can also consider deadbolts on windows.
• Invest in a burglar alarm system. Noise can often discourage a burglar, and systems that automatically notify the police and other emergency services bring help quickly. Some alarm systems may result in an insurance discount.

Keeping a home looking “lived-in” is also a good idea. Among ways to do this are:

• Putting interior lights on a timer. Choosing a few rooms to remain lit gives the impression someone is home. Consider a timer or asking a neighbor to turn on interior and exterior lights at night.
• Stop mail delivery, or have a trusted neighbor collect your mail, newspapers and any delivered packages so they don’t stack up outside, a clear signal no one is home.
• Ask a neighbor to cut the grass if growth will be noticeable.
• Leave a radio on and turn down the doorbell if possible. Some thieves ring the doorbell or knock to try and determine if anyone is home, and having a loud radio playing and the doorbell level muted plants doubt in an intruder’s mind as to whether no one is home or the resident just didn’t hear the doorbell or knock.

The Insurance Department also discourages leaving a key outside of the home, despite having a “good” hiding spot, and instead trusting a friend or neighbor to hold a spare key. Keep all valuables in lock boxes and computers stored out of sight. With social media gaining more and more in popularity, it’s also important not to announce to your network that you are out of town.

“People really want to share with their friends and family what they’re doing and what they’re up to. But many people have broad followings. If you’re posting pictures live that you’re out of town, you can reach the wrong audience and you’re broadcasting you’re not home and your house is empty,” said Altman.

Save the photo dump for when you’re back from your vacation. Ultimately, it’s better safe to wait to post instead of posting photos immediately, showcasing you’re not home.

“As Realtors®, we are often faced with empty properties from homeowners who have already moved. The Insurance Department offers excellent tips on protecting your home when you’re not in it. I usually recommend to clients I’m working with that they make the home look as lived-in as possible, and that includes keeping up with cutting the grass, picking up mail and packages and leaving a light or two on,” said PAR President Bill McFalls Jr.