The Holidays Are Coming: How To Protect Your Home From Accidents And Theft
The holidays will be here in just a few weeks. It's time to start thinking about holiday safety. You might not realize this, but your home might be more susceptible at this time of year to accidents and crime. Unfortunately, those incidences can ruin your holidays and increase your insurance premiums. To keep your home safe, and your insurance premiums low, here are four steps you should take this holiday season.
Use GFCI Outlets
If you're going to be decorating your home with lights this year, make sure you're protected against power surges and shorts. The best way to do that is by using GFCI outlets for all your decorating. GFCI outlets will prevent power surges and also cut off the power to your holiday decorations when there's a short in the line, or if they're exposed to water. If you don't have GFCI outlets installed outside, you can purchase in-line GFCI cords. These power cords have GFCI outlets installed right at the switch, which means you can move them anywhere in your yard. With GFCI outlets, your home will be protected against electrical shorts and fires.
Keep Your Home Well Lit
The crime rate tends to go up during the holidays. That's because criminals know that most homes will be filled with holiday gifts. You don't want your home to fall prey to criminal activities. The best way to protect against theft is to keep your home well lit. Be sure to leave your porch lights on whenever you leave and while you're sleeping. It's also a good idea to add lighting to any areas that aren't properly protected. Keeping your home well-lit will help reduce criminal activity around your home.
Shut Your Curtains at Night
If you're going to have a decorated holiday tree in your home this year, be sure to keep your curtains closed at night. Keeping your curtains open will allow criminals to see the gifts you have in your home, which will invite break-ins and theft. Protect your home from theft by shutting your curtains as soon as it gets dark out.
Close the Lids on Your Trashcans
You might not realize this, but criminals will monitor trash cans during the holidays. They'll target homes by looking for the packaging that belongs to big-ticket items such as televisions, computers, appliances, and game systems. To avoid becoming a target for theft, be sure to keep the lids closed on your trash cans. It's also a good idea to break down your packages into smaller pieces so that they're not visible to passersby.
Don't let accidents and crime ruin your holidays and raise your insurance rates. Use the tips provided here to protect your home this year. For more information, visit a site such as http://olynorthwest.com/.
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