2020, the year of staycation.
What is a staycation?
A staycation is exactly what it sounds like; a vacation where you stay in your home country and do not travel abroad. This type of holiday can range from day trips to camping to staying in a hotel for a couple of nights.
Due to the Coronavirus outbreak and travel restrictions in place, many people have opted to stay at home this year. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a couple of nights in a hotel or take the family camping. Just make sure to follow all rules and regulations in place to keep you and other visitors safe!
While we may be excited for a couple of nights away, remember to secure your home as you would when travelling abroad. Propertynews.com are sharing 6 ways that you can protect your home when you’re on staycation.
6 ways to protect your home when you’re on staycation
1. Make your house look lived in
A great way to deter an incident is making your house look lived in. Make use of self-timers and set your lights to come on in the evening. This will give the appearance that someone is at home. It is also a good idea if a friend or neighbour can park in your driveway a couple of times a week to create an illusion of activity around the house.
2. Check all windows and doors
As the days get warmer, we throw our windows open to let in fresh and cooler air. However, in the excitement of leaving for your staycation, it can be very easy to miss the window that you have left slightly ajar. It may sound obvious, but before you leave, do one final sweep checking that all windows and doors are locked.
If you were to accidentally leave a door or window open, you may find that your home insurance provider will be unwilling to pay out for a claim because you did not take care when securing your home.
Once you are satisfied that all windows and doors are locked, make sure to leave the keys out of sight and out of reach of windows and the letterbox.
It may also be a good idea to leave a spare set of keys with a trusted neighbour. That way, someone can gain entry quickly if something were to happen.
3. Don’t forget the outdoor area
Purchasing external security lighting is a great way to secure your home whilst you are enjoying your staycation. These sensor-based lights are triggered by movement around your home. If you have made your neighbours aware that you are away, these lights will alert them to any activity around your home.
There are a number of tell-tale signs in your garden that can make it obvious you are away from home. Consider cutting your grass and watering any outdoor plants before leaving as a well-maintained garden will give the impression that someone is at home.
4. Don’t broadcast your absence
Many of us like to post snapshots of our holidays on our social media accounts. However, while it may look like a beach picture to you, to someone on the internet, it is a sign that your home is empty. It is best to avoid posting your staycation to social media until you are back at home.
5. Postpone your post
Nothing says “no one’s home” like a build-up of post in your letterbox and doorway. There are a few things you can do to stop this happening.
Firstly, ensure that you have cancelled all subscriptions and magazines that will arrive whilst you are away.
Secondly, ask a trusted neighbour to gather any post or flyers that is visible within your letterbox.
Lastly, you can use Royal Mail’s Keepsafe service which will store your post in a secure location throughout the duration of your staycation. Once you arrive home, notify Royal Mail who will then deliver your post.
6. Set the burglar alarm
An important deterrent to have installed in your home is a working burglar alarm. Make sure that you have this alarm properly set before you leave for your staycation.
Finally, if you are unsure of leaving your home unoccupied for an extended amount of time, you can also ask a trusted friend or neighbour to house sit for you. This will provide you will full peace of mind so that you can enjoy your stay at home holiday.
View more homeowner tips on Propertynews.com
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