The holidays are upon us and many people go away over this season. There are a few things to note before you leave one of your biggest assets for a week or two so that when you come back, it is safe and secure.
“Holidays are a great time for relaxing and spending time with the family, however with many people leaving their homes over this period it is a good idea to run through some safety measures to make sure that your home is safe, and most importantly, you don’t have to worry on your precious holiday time,” says Marius Marais, CEO of Housing Finance for FNB.
Herewith a few tips to help you relax on your holiday away from home.
Make sure your insurance is up-to-date
“Make sure that you check your household insurance before your leave,” says Marais. “Your house and its contents need to be fully protected in case there is an incident such as a geyser bursts, there is a break in, or something even more serious happens such as a fire.”
Make sure you have your policy document somewhere that you can get to it easily, even while on holiday. It is an idea to send it to yourself on your personal email. Also ensure that you have your insurer’s numbers programmed into your phone so you are not delayed if something does happen.
Have someone check in
Get a friend, or even consider paying someone to come and check on your house during the period you are away. Make sure that they have all the necessary emergency numbers and are able to get hold of you.
“You need to remember that many of your service providers also take time off at this time of year. Be sure to ask your electrician, plumber and handyman if they are going away, and who you might be able to contact in an emergency. Give the person keeping an eye on your home all these numbers,” says Marais.
Unplug all your appliances
Unplugging your toaster, kettle and other appliances will not only save them from potential electrical surges, but will also save you on your electrical bill.
“Unpack your entire fridge as well as your freezer,” advises Marais. “It is not pleasant to come home to a fridge full of rotting food if there is a power failure. Rather use this time to spring clean your fridge and unplug it. Leave the doors of the fridge and freezer open. ”
Check your alarm system
Unfortunately, even though you are on holiday, thieves are not and this is a common time for house robberies.
“Make sure that you let your security company know that you are on holiday and that your alarm is in good working order. Ask your security company to do drive-bys during this period as well,” says Marais. “Consider putting a friend as the contact if the alarm goes off, so they can go along with the security company to check that all is well.”
Lock away anything expensive
“Lock away any jewellery or expensive items, even televisions or nice pieces of artwork” says Marais. “While this may seem to be overly cautious, it won’t take long and will give you extra peace of mind.”
Internet and phone
Unplug your wireless modem, to save it from electrical shocks and incurring unnecessary bills. Consider diverting your home phone to your mobile, so that you still get your phone calls as well as backing up your laptop or personal computer.
If you do a few small things to protect your home while you are away over the holiday period, it will make your time-off far more relaxing and your home will be in good condition on your return.
For more information contact:
Chloe Webb – Corporate Communications Manager
Tel: (087) 3119124
Cell: 0833050144
E-mail: cwebb@fnb.co.za
