For many people in Canada, the holiday season is the perfect excuse to escape the cold by taking a trip to a warmer destination. This year when you are packing your bags and making your travel arrangements, don’t forget to make sure you are protecting your home while you’re away.
When you go on vacation you may have a set list of things to do before you leave, set your lights on a timer, unplug any electronics to prevent surges, set your security alarm, and lock the doors and windows. Here are a few other steps you should consider adding to your departure routine to ensure your home remains protected while you are away:
Speak with a close family member or friend to check in on your home periodically. While this might already be something that you do, it is important to know why as it could affect your insurance coverage should something happen while you’re away. Many insurance companies have a rule that your house must be checked on every 48 hours or so. This is to ensure that should anything go wrong in your home; it is caught in a reasonable time before any damage spreads. We recommend that you check your insurance policy before you leave to ensure that you have someone checking on your house as often as your insurance company requires so your coverage remains in full effect.
Create a home inventory and update before you leave. In the unfortunate event that you suffer a loss while you are away, it is important that you have a complete list of your home’s contents as it is not always easy to remember every last item that you own should it disappear. Your home inventory should be updated several times a year.
For added protection to your contents, be sure to specially store them. Valuable items such as jewelry, cash, and electronics should be stored in a locked safe either in your home, or in a trusted secondary location such as your bank.
Set your home to at least 13 Celsius (55 Fahrenheit) when away during the winter months. While it may be tempting to turn off your heat while you are not home during the winter in order to save some money, this could end up costing you. Leaving your heating on too low could cause pipes in your home to freeze and burst which would not be covered by your policy. It is also recommended that if you’re away for an extended period, to turn off your water completely to help further eliminate these kinds of risks.
Don’t forget to protect yourself as well when planning your next trip. give us a call 1-877-941-2266 or contact Absolute Insurance Brokers and we would be happy give to get you set up with the best travel insurance coverages and rates.
