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Safety first this holiday season.

· 6 December 2018

Whether you’re holidaying on the other side of world or down at your favourite beach spot, when you leave your home, there is an increased risk it will become a target for thieves. The good news is there are a few tips and tricks you can use which can make a huge difference in protecting your most valuable asset – your home.

DOUBLE-CHECK THE LOCKS
Check your home’s existing locks and if necessary refit new ones, such as deadlocks and bolts on doors and windows. Many homes have locks on windows that generally share the one key, so it’s a good idea to keep this key in a safe location (or even with you) whilst you’re on holiday.

KEEP KEYS IN A SAFE PLACE
Don’t leave house keys hidden outside, as experienced thieves will know where to look. Instead, leave a set of keys with trusted neighbours or friends or take them with you.

SURVEY OUTDOOR OBJECTS
Lock away garden tools and ladders as they could potentially help a would-be thief gain access into your home.

LET IN THE LIGHT
Use automatic timer switches for lamps, TVs or stereos to come on then turn off each night. This will give the illusion that someone is occupying your home and will deter potential thieves. Outdoor sensor lights are also a good idea not only to deter intruders but to help alert neighbours to someone’s presence around your home.

CLEAR THE LETTERBOX
Arrange to have you letterbox emptied daily. Nothing is a bigger signal to thieves than an overflowing letterbox, or newspapers piling up on the lawn. It may be a good idea to have your newspaper subscription paused or diverted to another address for the duration of your holiday.

LONG-TERM BREAKS
For longer holiday breaks, arrange to have your lawn mowed and the house aired with windows opened occasionally (whilst someone is at the house), so it’s apparent someone is either living-in or visiting the home regularly.

BE SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY
Don’t leave a message on your phone indicating that you are away and be careful not to mention the duration of your trip on social media. Recent research has shown that thieves canvas social media to try and identify people who may be away and to locate their address. Also ensure you have strict privacy settings on your social media profiles.

HAVE SOMEONE STAY
If possible, ask a trusted friend or family member to be your housesitter.

MAKE A LIST OF VALUABLES
Keep an up-to-date list of any valuables such as jewellery, antiques, electronics and artwork. Take a photo of each item to keep on file and ensure your insurance company also has a copy. This will make the claim process much easier if something were to happen.

For all your real estate needs, contact your local professionals Harcourts The Property People on 4628 7444.

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Family and home protection over the holiday season

Posted by thepropertypeoplecampbelltown

· 10 December 2017

Make sure Santa is the only person visiting your home this holiday season with these great tips and ideas.

Intruders know that the period between mid-December through to early January is the perfect time to steal new valuable items from homes. Many homes are easy targets as their occupants leave their homes unattended for longer periods of time while they are out shopping, visiting family and friends, attending Christmas Carols and other events, and going on holiday.

To avoid making your home an intruder’s next target, here are some great tips and ideas.

Firstly, don’t advertise your valuables. If possible, make sure presents are out of sight of windows, or wait until the last moment to put them out under the tree. And after presents have been unwrapped, don’t display the empty boxes out near bins, showing what new items you have inside your home. Instead, break the boxes down and put them inside your recycling bin.

And when you are out, away or asleep, remember the basics at all times – doors and windows need to be locked or secured.

Christmas also means fairy lights and lots of them! Try not to overload power points with too many lights or other electricals, as this is a fire risk and often the cause of many household fires this time of year. And when you go to bed, make sure all of these lights are turned-off.

Nothing is completely secure, however when you go away on holiday, you can greatly reduce the risk of your house being broken into by taking a few measures. Appearance plays an important part in deterring thieves.

Here are some ideas to make it appear that your home is occupied, leaving no clue to potential thieves that you’re away. Before you go away you should: –

Cancel any newspaper deliveries.
Ask the post office to hold your mail, or get a neighbour to collect and hold it for you.
Let your neighbours know that you’re going away and ask them to keep an eye out for anyone around your home.
Give a neighbour your car keys and ask them to move your second car out of the garage and leave in the driveway every couple of days. Alternatively you could ask them to park their car in the driveway.
If you are away for an extended period of time, perhaps organise for a lawn mowing service to do your lawns and tidy the gardens.
The garbage bin. You could ask your neighbour to roll out and put back your bin. If you don’t want to ask a neighbour to do this, put it away altogether.
Install some electrical timers inside your home to turn selected lights on and off for a period every night.
Turn the volume of your phone down and don’t leave a message telling people you’re away.

You may also have some ideas of your own. Remember, the key is to make your home look like it is occupied.

Harcourts – The Property People are your local real estate sales and property management professionals. For any queries, call 4628 7444.

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