Ready for your end-of-year break? Before you leave, make sure your home is in safe hands and you have all the necessary precautions in place to safeguard your home against burglary or damage. Here’s how you can protect your home while you’re away:
Home security with a house-sitter:
- Always check references when hiring someone to look after your property. Or ask a friend or family member to check on things while you’re away.
- Lock away valuables and any personal documents.
- Clarify your house-sitter’s responsibilities upfront and make sure they understand what they will be responsible for.
- Remind the sitter to activate your alarm and lock all burglar gates whenever he/she leaves your house.
- If you have home contents insurance with Santam, you will have theft cover when a sitter is looking after your house, just make sure to check your policy’s terms and conditions so you know exactly what’s included.
If you are renting out your home:
Renting out your home over the holidays can be an attractive way to offset your own travel costs. Before going ahead, check your home insurance policy to see if you’re covered for rentals. It’s also a good idea to protect yourself from vandalism, theft or injury claims from guests:
- Additional liability insurance: Protect yourself from injury claims by adding liability cover to your home contents cover. Santam works with specialist underwriters who will cover you from R1 million.
- Limited bed and breakfast cover: if you permanently live in your home and three or less bedrooms are rented out to guests then your home may be treated as a B&B and as such you need bed and breakfast cover.
How to secure your house when it’s vacant
If you won’t have anyone staying on your property this festive season and you’re planning to lock up and go, let your security company know, as they may offer extra security during this period. Give them the contact number of a friend or family member in case your alarm goes off. Ask a reliable neighbour or family member to regularly pop round to your house to make sure all is in order.
The final checks before you leave:
- Switch off all your lights. You can leave a side lamp on to deter opportunistic crime so that it looks as if someone is home.
- Make sure your house is locked up and secure – every window, door and security gate. Hide keys away.
- Test and then make sure that your alarm is switched on.
- Leave curtains and blinds open. Nothing reveals that a house is unoccupied so much as curtains drawn during the day.
- Be careful about what you reveal on social media and avoid broadcasting that you’re away on holiday as you never know who will see this information.
- Switch off your geyser to save electricity.
- Unplug electrical appliances (except your fridge) to protect them against power surges, which could not only damage appliances but also spark a fire.
- Make suitable arrangements for your pets.
Holiday house safety
Holiday homes are often neglected when considering home contents insurance cover, and may be high risk if they are left unattended. Remember, you can secure your holiday home on the same policy as your main residence.
Here’s how you can protect your property:
- Update your inventory list regularly to ensure everything has been accounted for and insured.
- Ensure you have sufficient security measures, such as a monitored alarm system.
- Trust a neighbour with a set of keys to access the property in case of emergency.
- Employ or ask somebody to regularly visit the property, checking for common issues such as leaking taps or a burst geyser.
- Keep maintenance up to date – e.g. garden services – so that your home looks lived in and cared for.
- Install sensor lights to detect unwanted movement.
Santam gives you peace of mind
Santam is giving clients extra protection over the holiday season by automatically adding 10% cover on household contents between 15 December and 31 January, for certain offerings. at no additional cost.
With Santam’s Home Assistance service, you have support for plumbing, electrical, and locksmith emergencies. You can also find repair services for essential appliances.
Check your home insurance cover
Take a few moments to check that you have sufficient insurance cover should anything go wrong while you’re away.
Need help reviewing your home insurance and home contents insurance cover? Whether you work through a broker or directly with us, we’re here to help. Visit our website for an online quote or get in touch to update your cover.