Are you heading on vacation this summer? Here are a few tips from Erie Insurance and Albion Agencies to help you safeguard your home while you are traveling:

Secure your home:

•  Lock and fasten all doors and windows, including those within an attached garage. For added security, insert a nail or a screw into the frame of lower-level windows above the closed pane to prevent them from being lifted.

•  Secure sliding glass doors by placing a metal rod or piece of plywood in the track.

Create an “at-home appearance:

•  Leave a locked vehicle in the driveway or let a neighbor park their vehicle in your driveway.

•  Never leave a message on your answering machine saying you are out of town.

•  Inside, use timers to turn lamps, radios and televisions on and off at regular intervals.

•  Outside, keep the perimeter of your home well lit by installing low-voltage outdoor lighting.

•  Stop your mail and newspapers, or have a trusted friend or neighbor pick them up. If you are planning an extended vacation, arrange for someone to mow your lawn.

Other precautions:

•  Trim trees and shrubs near any point of entry to your home.

•  Install motion sensitive lighting outdoors.

•  Put cash_, jewelry or important papers in your safe deposit box. Do not leave valuable items in the bedroom (that’s the first place a thief will look).

•  Make sure valuable items inside your home are not visible from the street.

Do you have any ideas for insurance safety articles? Please drop me an email, or comment below. Thanks!

For more information, drop by our website at www.albionagencies.com, or get in touch with me.

The information in this post is general in nature, and geared toward insurance conditions in Western New York.  As always, you should speak with an insurance adviser to determine your specific insurance needs.