When Traveling for Summer Vacation, Keep Your Home Safe

Your summer plans may include traveling away from home to escape the heat (or soak in the sun). Sunshine, mountain vistas or ocean waves may help you relax and recharge. Before you pack your bags for summer trips you should evaluate your insurance risks and needs. These tips from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) can help make sure you are protected while you enjoy your summer fun.

Know What's Covered While Away from Home

Whether you're leaving home for a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, be aware of what your homeowners or renters policy will cover. Typically, your homeowners insurance will follow you, protecting you even while you're not at home. Off-premises coverage means your belongings are insured anywhere in the world. If you're staying at a hotel and belongings are stolen, your homeowners policy will provide protection, but the exact coverage depends on your policy. In addition to your deductible, expensive items such as jewelry will typically have a replacement limit. If you have extra protection from a personal umbrella policy, it is important to understand what would be covered Contact your agent to clarify what's insured under your policy.

Take Steps So Your Home isn't a Break-In Target

Making your home a less enticing target can discourage break-ins. Some of these updates to your home may even lower your insurance premium. Install deadbolts on doors and/or windows. These can slow a burglar, or discourage one altogether. Invest in an alarm system or motion-activated camera. An alarm will often discourage a burglar. Some alarm systems may result in an insurance discount.

When you are planning to be away from your home for travel or vacation, keeping a "lived in" look can deter theft. Consider prepping for your trip by following some of these tips:

Put interior lights on a timer or choose a few rooms to remain lit to give the impression someone is home.
Stop mail delivery or have a neighbor collect your mail, newspapers and packages so they don't stack up outside.
Hire someone to cut the grass if you'll be gone long enough that growth will be noticeable.
Leave a radio on and turn down your doorbell volume, if possible. Some thieves ring the doorbell or knock to determine if anyone is home. Having a loud radio playing and the doorbell muted plants doubt in an intruder's mind.
Have a car parked in your driveway. Another way to make a home look lived in is to have cars coming and going from the driveway throughout the day.

Protecting your home's contents is also important. Give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or friend to have access to the home. Avoid the cliché of putting the key under the mat, as thieves often check there. Store important documents and expensive items in a lockbox, a safe, or at another location. Don't keep valuable documents in a personal desk or office where burglars will know to look for them. Stow your computer out of sight to discourage an intruder from trying to hack into your personal accounts.

Wait to Share on Social Media

When you are having a great time on vacation, it can be really tempting to post photos or stories on your social media. Don't fall into this trap; keep your trip private until you've returned home. Even if your social media profiles are private, someone in your network might be a connection for a burglar to know your home is unoccupied. Wait until you are home to share the trip highlights on social media.

Do you have questions on what your home or renters policy covers? Contact your local IMT Agent today to find out!