Defending your home

By Julie Snyder
C & G Staff Writer

Going on a long trip for the holidays? Planning to stay somewhere warm for the winter? Before setting out, it’s recommended you heed tips intended to defend your home while you’re away.

First and foremost, it’s a good idea to make your house look like it’s occupied in order to prevent a break-in or theft.

Cherie Mascarello, community resource officer for the St. Clair Shores Police Department, said there are just a few simple steps involved in pulling off such a façade.

“If you’re going to be away for a long time, you’re probably going to stop your mail and newspaper delivery,” she said. “If it’s winter and there’s snow on the ground, there will be no visible tracks, an obvious sign no one’s been home. It’s a good idea to hire a landscaping company or have a family member or a friend remove snow from the driveway and the sidewalk when needed.”

Mascarello said it’s not a good idea to have outdoor lights timed at specific times. She said it’s best to have indoor and outdoor lights timed throughout the day and night. “You don’t want the lights coming on every day at 6 and off at 11. Time the lights so they’re going on and off at different times so it doesn’t look so obvious.”

She also recommends asking a neighbor to park their car in your driveway, and give a trusted friend or family member a key to the house and have the home’s windows and doors checked periodically. Also check all window and door locks and security systems before leaving.

St. Clair Shores police have implemented a Vacation Notification Program that allows residents to inform the department when they are out of town for any extended period of time. Filling out a required form is a request to have an officer periodically check on the home and respond to anything suspicious.

But there’s more than just potential criminal activity people should defend their homes against.

Joseph King, from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, said making sure your home’s inner workings are in tip-top shape will allow you to have a much more relaxing stay away.

“There are many things you can do to avoid any kind of damage to your home,” said King. “Make a checklist before your go.”

That checklist should include making sure trees are trimmed. Ice and snow accumulation on tree branches could cause them to break off and fall, King said. Homeowners should routinely inspect trees on their property, and make sure limbs and branches are cut back 5 to 6 feet from roof and wall surfaces.

Homeowners should also check for signs of roof leaks and have any leaks fixed before leaving for an extended length of time. Gutters should also be cleaned to ensure good drainage and reduce the chances of ice dam formation.

And don’t let your home get too cold. Thermostats in a vacant home should be set to no lower than 68 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing. Water and gas to appliances should be shut off, as water heaters and appliances can malfunction and pipes (PVC and copper) can leak or burst, which can cause major damage in an unattended home.

“Property protection measures are crucial for unoccupied homes,” said Julie Rochman, president and CEO of IBHS. “Little things that go undiscovered and/or unrepaired because no one is around to notice can quickly grow into serious, much more costly catastrophes.”

The best protection is to shut off the main water supply valve. When shutting the water off, also turn off the power or gas to the water heater, or the gas company can do so.

IBHS is an independent, nonprofit, scientific and educational organization supported by the property insurance industry. The organization works to reduce the social and economic effects of natural disasters and other risks to residential and commercial property by conducting research and advocating improved construction, maintenance and preparation practices.

King advises leaving electricity on, and advising utility companies of dates that the house will be vacant and ask to be notified in the event of high usage or an emergency. Many utility companies now offer automatic email notification that consumers can receive via smartphones and other handheld devices.

“The best bet is to give a key to a family member or a friend who will check your house regularly,” said King. “If there is a problem, it can be taken care of immediately, so you’re not coming home to a flood in your home or worse. Preparation can really go a long way.”
 

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Julie Snyder at jsnyder@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1039.