5 Top Tips for a Safe and Merry Christmas

The festive season is upon us, and whilst it is a time for celebration, relaxation and spending time with family and friends, the holidays can also present a number of risks to those that aren’t prepared.

This is why the team at Praden Private Clients has put together a list of our TOP 5 TIPS to keep your home and families safe and secure throughout the Christmas period:

1. Review your insured values
Due to the ongoing increases in construction and material costs many Australian homes are significantly underinsured. Why not use the time off over Christmas to review your current insured values and increase them if necessary?

This is also an ideal time to prepare an inventory of your valuable items including any high value Christmas gifts. If a loss occurs, having an inventory can make the claims process considerably quicker and far less stressful than it otherwise might be.

2.  Security is key
Extensive travel during the holidays means more homes are left unattended, making them vulnerable to theft or damage. Even for those who are spending Christmas at home, expensive gifts can attract opportunistic thieves, so it is important to take some extra precautions:

• Ensure that all doors and windows are locked.
• Activate burglar alarms and consider installing monitored smoke alarms.
• Link security cameras to your phone.
• Secure valuable outdoor furniture and garden equipment or move them inside.

3. Give the impression you are at home
If you are travelling over Christmas, try not to make it obvious that no one is home. Ask a neighbour to take out the bins, collect your mail and open and close curtains or blinds. Utilising timer switches and smartphone apps to turn your lights on and off can also help to deter thieves.

While we all love to show off our holidays online, be cautious about your social media use while on holidays and advise your family members to think about how they use these platforms and who can see that they’re not at home.

4. Reduce your risk of fire
Christmas tree lights may look festive, but they can be dangerous, especially on real trees. Before hanging your lights, ensure that they are in safe working order, check that they adhere to Australian Safety standards, and avoid using damaged cables. Consider turning the lights off while you’re asleep and when you’re away.

If you and your family will be on holidays for an extended period, turn off power points and appliances to reduce the risk of fire in your home.

5. Avoid water leaks
Did you know that over 10% of water damage claims in Australia occur in January, the time when most Australians are on holidays? Not only is there an increase in the number of claims, there is also an increase in the severity of these claims as damage can go undetected for weeks. To reduce the likelihood of a claim putting a dampener on your Christmas celebrations, there are a number of precautionary steps you can take:

• Before going on holiday, check for burst flexi-hoses, leaking appliances, blocked gutters and blocked drains as these are the most common causes of water damage in the home.
• Know where your shut-off valves are in case of an emergency and shut off the water supply when you go on holidays.
• Inspect your roof regularly, especially after severe storms. Clear gutters and eaves once a month.
• Install a water leak detection system to monitor the flow of water into your home. Early detection of leaks within the home can save you lots of time and money in the form of expensive repairs and insurance claims at a later date.

If you would like more information on how to protect your home and valuables, or would like assistance to review your current insurance protection, please CONTACT US.