Don’t freak out before you fly south – Snowbird Home Prep

As sad as it may be to think about, the colder weather is here, and it is only going to get colder. Fall is changing into winter and with that snowbirds begin to “fly” south!

If you are one of those lucky Michiganders who get to flee the cold winter months and escape to a warmer climate 1) we are jealous and 2) you should really read this blog.

In the dash to escape the impending cold you may think leaving is as simple as locking the doors and driving away, and while we hate to be the ones to break it to you - your home needs a little more attention than that prior to your extended time away.

There are a couple of different areas in which your home needs protecting, so let’s start with what you can do to prevent disaster or damage.

• Turning off your water is a great defense against pipe bursts, after all you’re not home so why does the water need to be on anyway?
• Unplugging some appliances and smaller devices is an easy way to help fight electrical fires. Items like televisions, toasters, coffee pots, and microwaves can still use electricity while not in use, so you may as well save on your electric bill while also taking some preventative measures!
• Continuing with fire prevention, installing smart smoke detectors in your home will allow you to be alerted on your phone should smoke be detected. The sooner you know a fire is occurring the better chance you have at minimizing the damage.
• Lastly, it is always a smart move to ask a friend, relative, or neighbor who lives nearby to keep an eye on your home. Have them stop in from time to time just to ensure nothing is amiss.

The other area you should focus on in preparation for your time away is protecting your home against theft. Homes that have been left unoccupied are prime targets for potential burglars. The most obvious tip is making sure you lock all windows, doors, and other access points into your home; it is not a bad idea to reinforce those locks with additional security features while you are at it! Consider installing timers on your lights to give the appearance that someone is home. This is a simple feature which could make someone reconsider breaking in. You should also place any valuables in a safe or unconventional location, so they are not as easily accessible as when you are home. Another good move to make is having the post office put a hold on your mail, since a person considering breaking in could see mail piling up and read that as a dead giveaway the home is vacant. Our last bit of advice, while not entirely necessary; but is just an additional safeguard if you want to up your security game is to install security cameras around the home that you can monitor from anywhere.

Gearing up to head out to sunnier skies and warmer weather can be hectic and while we would never want to add to the chaos, taking preventative measures could save you in the long run. No one wants to come home to a burglarized home or a flooded kitchen, talk about a bummer.

For those heading south for the winter, we hope you enjoy the sunshine. Please bring it with you when you come back in the spring, everyone who survived the winter is going to need it!

Have any questions about what you just read? Please contact your Independent Insurance Agent or email us at socialmedia@psmic.com!