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Everyone is eager for the December holidays to arrive. Most of us have been planning exactly what we will be doing and where we will be recharging. It is important to make the proper protection of your residence while you are away, part of that planning process.
“We’ve all had a long and hard year and being preoccupied with summer holidays is certainly understandable. There are a couple of easy things you can do now already to make sure everything is ready by the time you fly off. It could help also prevent any nasty last-minute surprises if you focus on these checks today,” says Charnel Hattingh, Group Head of Marketing and Communications at Fidelity ADT.
The first and most important step to take, she said, is to regularly test your alarm to ensure that it is in good working order. This testing should include any outdoor elements that are exposed to adverse weather conditions, as well as batteries and passive motion sensors.
It is also a good idea to let your security company know what your holiday plans are and how best to get in touch with you in the event of an emergency.
Hattingh offers more tips to make sure your residential property is protected and safe when you are not there:
- Cut back any bushes or trees that may offer easy access over walls or gates to your property, or provide places for criminals to hide
- Inform your neighbours and neighbourhood watch of your holiday plans so that they can keep an eye on your property
- If hiring a house-sitter, ensure that you teach them how to use your alarm correctly
- If you don’t have a house-sitter, ask a neighbour or a friend to turn on lights occasionally so that there is a sense that someone is around. If this is not possible, consider putting your outside lights on a timer
- Double-check that you have locked and secured all windows and doors before leaving home
- Turn off your geyser and any unnecessary electrical appliances so you can save on electricity and be environmentally friendly friendly
“We also recommend that people be careful and discreet about packing for a long journey and to not give any indication that your home might be unattended for an extended period,” says Hattingh.
“It doesn’t matter if you are relaxing at home or next to the ocean these holidays. If something were to happen to you or a loved one, make sure you know who to contact for emergency assistance,” says Hattingh.
