Protecting Your Home During Your Vacation – Some Prevention Tips

If the word “holiday” rhymes with idleness, change of scenery, letting go the fact remains that a departure is something to be prepared. Certain actions and certain checks are necessary, in particular to secure your home. A quick overview of the precautions to take before D-Day.

Against theft – follow the instructions of the home insurance contract

During the period of vacancy, the major risk remains theft.

1. The home insurance contract summarizes the guarantees taken out and the conditions of their validity in the event of theft. It is thus necessary to respect the criteria mentioned, otherwise the burglary insurance will not work: these criteria vary according to the insurers.

We recommend comparing insurance and adapting your contract to the type of property protected:  high movable capital, amount of precious objects to be guaranteed, etc.

2. Be aware that if the doors and shutters are not properly closed, the compensation paid in the event of burglary will be reduced.
3. A final check to be made on the home insurance contract: does it include a non-home clause? Insurers can claim it in the event of theft. For an absence greater than 60 or 90 days accumulated over the year (excluding weekends), the burglar will probably not be covered.

Prevention – Securing your home before leaving

• In terms of prevention against theft, the insurer can recommend the installation of a video surveillance system. In return, the premium for home insurance is sometimes lowered or the deductible associated with the theft is reduced or eliminated.

Given the cost of such an installation, the insurer will recommend the installation of an alarm or of a dissuasive fence. 95% of burglars flee when the alarm goes off.

• Even more affordable, because it is free: the “holiday tranquility” operation set up a few years ago by the police and gendarmerie services.

A trusted neighbor or babysitting service can also play the same monitoring role.

• Simulating a presence using a light scheduler is another deterrent.
• It is also advisable to protect  your valuables  in a safe and to photograph them so that you can then facilitate searches in the event of theft; proof of the value of these objects (eg corresponding invoices) will be judiciously deposited outside the home (bank, relatives, etc.).

Protecting your home against other risks: water damage, fire, etc.

Other risks are likely to interfere with your vacation during your absence.

Water damage,  electrical accidents,  fire  or explosions should not be neglected; to guard against this, it is recommended to disconnect the electricity meter, cut off the water supply, the gas, turn off the water heater: even for short-term absences.

Beyond 3 or 4 days of absence, some insurers do not cover you in the event of water damage; they can halve your compensation.

 Trick

One last practical tip: have the emergency numbers with you in your phone: insurance contract number,  assistance guarantee number, number to dial in the event of credit card theft, security center number in the event of  possession of alarm.