Five ways to protect your home while on holiday

1. Let a trusted friend or neighbour know you’re away

Ask someone you trust to check your home each week. It’s also a good idea to give them a copy of your itinerary and contact details so they can get in touch if anything goes wrong.

Leaving for an extended period? You may also need to contact your insurance provider to let them know.

2. Make it look like you’re at home

As much as possible, make it appear as though you’re still at home:

Cancel deliveries and ask a neighbour to collect your mail and put out your bins once a week
Hire a gardener or ask a friend to mow your lawns
Use a timer switch to turn your lights and appliances on and off

3. Take proactive steps to prevent theft and break-ins

These steps will make it more difficult for thieves to access your building and belongings:

Check your doors and windows to make sure they close and lock securely
Consider installing exterior lights with motion sensors
Don’t leave ladders or toolboxes out in the garden or in an unlocked garden shed
Hide your valuables – or better yet, invest in a home safe
Install a home security camera. Video surveillance can deter criminals from targeting your home

4. Turn off your appliances and taps

Turning off and unplugging appliances like your computer, kettle and TV will help save electricity and money. Disconnecting can also reduce the risk of an electrical fire or power surge during a storm.

Similarly, there are simple ways to help prevent water leaks in your absence:

Turn off your main water supply, or if that’s not possible, turn off the taps connected to your appliances and toilets to prevent potential leaks
Assess your flexi hoses under the sink before you go and repair if they show signs of deterioration

5. Check your home and contents insurance cover

It’s a great idea to regularly review your sum insured amount in your policy to make sure your home and belongings are appropriately covered if something happens while you’re away - like a fire, storm or theft.

Use this handy building insurance calculator and contents insurance calculator to ensure you’re appropriately covered
Explore Portable Contents Cover options

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Things you should know

This article is intended to provide general information of an educational nature only. It does not have regard to the financial situation or needs of any reader and must not be relied upon as financial product advice.

Home Insurance is provided and issued by Hollard Insurance Partners Limited ABN 96 067 524 216, AFSL 235030 (Hollard) and distributed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL 234945 (CBA). Hollard is not part of the CBA Group. CBA and its related entities do not sell, issue or guarantee the obligations or performance of Hollard or the products Hollard offers and this insurance product does not represent a deposit with or liability of either CBA or any of its related bodies corporate. If you purchase a Home Insurance policy, CBA is paid a commission which is a percentage of your premium.

For products issued by Hollard, information about the target market can be found within the product’s Target Market Determination available here.

This information has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should, before acting on this, consider the appropriateness of the product to your circumstances. A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) is available at all Commonwealth Bank branches, by downloading them from commbank.com.au or by calling 13 2423 and should be considered before making any decisions about this product. You should also read the Premium, Excess and Discount Guide (PEDG), Key Facts Sheets (KFS), and Financial Services Guide (FSG) by clicking on the links, or by calling 13 2423 for a paper copy.