Protect your home while away
The holiday season is upon us once again and as people pack up to escape the heat the UAE is becoming quieter by the day.
Although
crime is still relatively low compared to other countries, it
nevertheless is something all residents should address before they
leave to prevent any nasty surprises on their return.
There are
also a number of other things to consider, including turning off
utilities and maintaining a constant temperature in the house to
prevent any potential damage. Some are obvious, but others are easy to
overlook so before you fly off, tick off this checklist to make sure
the home you come back to is the same as the one you leave.
Get insured
Last
winter's floods were a wake-up call for many about the need to protect
the contents of their home. But despite people losing goods worth
thousands of dirhams there is still a sizable proportion of the
population that does not have buildings or contents insurance, says
Jonathan Jane, Regional Retail Manager for Axa Insurance Gulf.
"Many
people don't own their property in the UAE so the desire to protect the
building doesn't come into the psyche very often and as such they are
more relaxed about the contents too," he says.
Insurance
premiums vary but can last between 30 and 45 days and cost as little as
a few hundred dirhams which is not much to pay for peace of mind.
It
is also worthwhile investing in a safe that can be fixed to a wardrobe
to house important documents, such as life insurance or marriage
certificates that don't need to be taken abroad.
Contents cover
can also assure items such as jewellery and cameras even when
travelling so if it is stolen while overseas people will lose photos
but not money.
For those living in apartment blocks, it is not
just your unit tenants must worry about but those joining on too. A
leak in the property above could see water dripping down into your
place damaging expensive electrical goods so it is worth getting
coverage for every eventuality.
Secure all windows and patio doors
When
making a claim for a burglary people often have to prove forced entry
but securing doors and windows before leaving for holiday can stop
would-be intruders in their tracks, especially if the property is
surrounded by a wall, which blocks neighbours seeing in.
"If you
live in a villa it's a good idea to fit locks on all doors and windows
but if the property is rented and so you can't do that, put a rod or
rail at the bottom, which will prevent someone being able to push them
open," advises Jane.
Invest in light timers
Timer
switches cost as little as Dh50 but can make a difference in fooling
anyone surveying a property as they can give the impression of life
continuing as normal.
Alan Macmillan, head of security and risk
management services for Emrill, says: "Some thieves are opportune but
others will spend days watching a property and they will be put off if
there appears to be daily activity at a property."
Leave keys with a trusted neighbour
Because
many people will go on holiday for a month or more it is a good idea to
leave a key with a trusted friend or neighbour, who is willing to check
the property on a regular basis. It can also help to ask a neighbour to
park their car in your drive, because again, daily movement can be an
excellent deterrent.
"If the key is with a neighbour, ask them
to open and close the blinds so there is a normal routine and have them
remove any junk mail from the front gates as that can make a house look
empty," says Macmillan.
It can also be worthwhile telling the security guard so they can increase patrols and leave them contact numbers just in case.
Leave the air conditioning turned on
Keeping
a house cool while its owners are on holiday can seem like an expensive
and environmentally damaging task but turning the air conditioning off
can cause even more costly problems.
"Leaving a/c off for weeks
could potentially make a house overheat and cause paint to crack and
fall off. Having a house go from cool to very hot quickly can also
damage a property," warns Macmillan.
Turn off water at the mains
Water
can cause all manner of problems, especially if it leaks for weeks
before detection. Gardeners will still need to water plants but most in
house outlets and bathroom hoses have stop taps on the wall so ensure
they are off before leaving to prevent coming back to a flooded house.
"We
have claims every year from people who return from holiday to find a
pipe under the sink has burst and ruined furniture," adds Jane.
Don't forget
Although
not technically a household consideration, disconnecting car batteries
is just as important before jetting off to more bearable climes. Cars
usually need turning over at least once a week but disengaging the
battery can negate this need.
"There's nothing worse than
getting into your car on your first day back at work to find the
battery has gone flat, so disconnect it before you go to prevent this,"
says Macmillan.
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