Paul Dreher Director of Personal Insurance View Bio

One of Lawley’s insurance partners is Chubb. They recently published this article about how to ensure you take the proper steps towards protecting your home while relocated for the winter months. Read the simple tips below to help increase the safety of your home while you are away:

  1. Make it look like you’re home
    To discourage burglars, use timers on both exterior and interior lights, and close drapes and shades to make it harder to see in. You should also put a hold on your mail and newspaper, and ask a trusted friend or neighbor to come by each day to pick up any flyers or packages that might be left on the porch or at the door.
  2. Let it snow
    Nothing says “we’re not home” like old snow in your driveway or walkway days after a storm. If you live in an area that gets snow over the winter, schedule someone to plow your driveway and shovel your walkways while you’re away. You may want to clean your home’s gutters and drains also, to ensure that water won’t freeze, causing damage to your roof.
  3. Keep water where it belongs
    To prevent water damage due to frozen, burst or leaking pipes, either shut off your water main and drain the pipes or install an automatic water leak detection and water shut-off system. It can save you huge headaches and costs if a pipe or faucet leaks while you’re gone. Also, remember to ask your Lawley insurance advisor if your home insurance covers water damage.
  4. Be ready for emergencies
    Before you leave, notify not only family and close friends, but the police and your home security company that you’ll be away. That way, if something happens, the people who need you will know where to find you. You may even want to have a local contractor’s number on hand in case you need emergency repairs done quickly.
  5. Turn off electronics and appliances
    If you’re not around, why spend money on electricity? Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics, and turn off washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers. You may even want to empty, clean out, and turn off your refrigerator. Leave the doors open and leave baking soda inside to cut down on any odors. If you don’t turn off the fridge, at least turn off the ice maker and empty the ice bin.
  6. Make it sound like you’re home
    If you have a landline telephone, turn the ringer off or forward your calls to your other location, so passersby don’t hear your phone ringing continually.
  7. Don’t let the house get too cold
    While you want to save money on your energy bills, set your thermostat no lower than 65° F, and consider installing a temperature monitor that will notify you if the temperature in your home drops below a certain level. This can help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.
  8. Keep the critters and others out
    Close the chimney flue to keep out squirrels, bats, or birds. Lock all windows and doors and trim back brush and hedges from your home, so that burglars can’t hide while they try to break in. If you have a sliding glass door, install slide locks so it can’t be pried open.
  9. Store artwork
    If you have collectibles in your home, you may want to have them professionally stored while you’re away, as changes in temperature and humidity can cause damage to some art and antiques.
  10. Update your inventory
    Take photos of high-value items in your home and take a complete inventory of what you have. Call Lawley to see the best way to save and archive these photos in case there is ever a claim. If something happens over the winter, you’ll be able to let both the police and insurance company know exactly what it was.