Heading on vacation? Here are easy ways to protect your home
2 Minute Read
There is a lot of planning that goes into your next holiday, but while you're marking stops on the map and deciding what delicious meals will be eaten, don't forget to think about what's going on at home while you're gone. It can be tricky not to get caught up in the moment while soaking up the sun, but posting envy-inducing photos and ignoring your home camera notifications could hurt you (and your wallet) in the long run. We spoke with CAA's Elliott Silverstein, Director of Government Relations (Insurance), to get an expert's thoughts on what you should be doing and not doing while you're away on a getaway. Here is what he said about home security while travelling.
Here's a big question that everyone wants to know: should you post on social media while on holiday?
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That is not an issue for some people – they use social media sparingly. But there are many of us who love to share our adventures with the world, especially if we’re visiting somewhere particularly photogenic.
The answer is that unless you have someone staying at your home while you’re away, don’t post. Hang on to your selfies until you get back and can post them safely.
Multiple UK studies have found that up to 80% of home burglaries are planned by using social media. If you are robbed while you’re away and you are posting on social media, it could impact your insurance claim.
Also, take care not to create an Instagram moment showing your ticket or boarding passes. Some cases of identity theft have arisen from information taken off innocently posted IDs.
You’ll want to disable the location service on your phone if you do post non-vacation-related things. Otherwise, your location is on the post and shows you’re travelling. The same rule applies to the ‘check in’ feature on social platforms – it will let people know you’re safe but also that you’re not at home.
Smart homes have all sorts of features that help homeowners while they're away. What are your thoughts on them?
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With smartphones and smart homes, the monitoring of our homes has drastically improved in the last ten years. Thanks to sophisticated video monitoring security systems and video doorbells, we can have a bird’s eye view of our homes when we are away. Plus, with a smart doorbell, you can keep track of who is coming to your door and answer it from anywhere in the world.
Setting up a home monitoring system is relatively easy to do, but if you have professionally installed burglar and fire alarm systems with live monitoring, you can get additional savings on your home insurance.
Finally, you should also put your thermostat on vacation mode – in the summer, you don’t need the air conditioning on while you’re away.
Maintain peace of mind while you’re off adventuring by ensuring your house and belongings are protected with the proper home insurance coverage. Speak with a licensed CAA Insurance Agent to check if you have the right coverage for your needs.
