You're Ready for Vacation, but Is Your House?

2/2/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Spencer & Iowa Great Lakes is "Ready for whatever happens." 712-262-4379

Having someone check on your home while you are away can save you money if a disaster would strike. Left unchecked, a small repair can turn into a big nightmare. While you are gone ask someone who is reliable to monitor your home. Living in Northwest Iowa we are known to have some pretty severe cold snaps which in turn causes pipes to burst. With water everywhere, damage is inevitable. If there is no one coming in to check on your home the damage significantly worsens each day that you are away. What may have been a few hundred dollars in repair costs now is into the thousands of dollars as far as full-on repair and restoration project. Odds are you will end up being responsible for the majority of the cost if you did not have someone checking on your property in your absence and thus you invalidated your homeowner’s coverage.

Don’t let getting away from it all get you down this season. Whether you are planning a cross-country trip, or s small jaunt to a family cabin, be sure to check these pre-vacation to-dos off your list.

• Arrange for someone to walk through and inspect your home every few days. Have them go through each room on every floor, including the garage. Your insurance carrier may have guidelines that needs to be followed for how often someone needs to come in and check on your home. Call your insurance company if you have questions about these requirements.
• Shut off your home’s main water supply. If you are going to be gone for an extended period of time drain your pipes. If you decide against draining your pipes, keep the furnace running to help make sure your home stays warm. Make sure the temperature is set to 55 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• Take care of your mail. Nothing screams, “We’re not home!” more than a bunch of mail stuffed in your mailbox and a pile of newspapers on the stoop. You can have put your mail delivery on hold while you are away or have the person who is checking on your home bring your mail inside. Arrange for someone to remove snow after any storms.
• Take home security measures while your gone. Leaving a light on for a while in the evening can be a good deterrent to would-be burglars. Use a timer to turn on a living room lamp for a few hours, you can also set outside lights to those timers. Confirm that your alarm or camera systems are in working order and have been activated. Ask your neighbors to keep an eye on your property. They can watch for unexpected visitors and support any suspicious behavior to the authorities. Don’t forget to lock all points of entry. This one might be harder than it sounds but try to avoid posting your travel plans on social media. At the very least, make your accounts private so potential thieves can’t see them.
• Take precautions for fire. Before you leave, make sure to unplug electronics around the house that don’t need power while you are gone. This will save you money and lower the risk of an electrical fire.

Even when you’ve taken all the right precautions, accidents and break-ins happen. This is why it’s so important to make sure your home insurance policy is up to date. If you haven’t reviewed your policy in a while, get in touch with your insurance provider to ensure your home and belongings are protected while you are away. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Spencer & Iowa Great Lakes is close by and ready to respond if water or fire damage strikes.