In the lead up to your next overseas trip, it’s likely that you will be preoccupied with trip planning. There’ll be packing to do, itineraries to plan and currencies to exchange.
But it’s a mistake to leave without giving some thought to keeping your home in Singapore safe when you’re gone.
Here are some ways to keep your home safe before you travel.
Lock all doors and windows
It seems like a no brainer, but many households in Singapore do not lock their windows or doors securely when they leave the house. Thanks to the low crime rate, theft is quite rare.
However, when you’re away on an extended holiday, don’t leave things to chance and make sure all doors and windows are securely locked. This also means locking any windows and door grills and using all the locks on your doors.
It might also be a good idea to lock your rooms, too. In the event of a break-in, this can delay or discourage the perpetrators from gaining access to belongings and valuables stored in the rooms.
Unplug all unused appliances and chargers
Incidences of electric scooter chargers catching fire have been on the rise. Before you leave home, double check to be sure that all chargers are unplugged.
It’s also a good idea to unplug all unused appliances such as your router and TV when you’re away for an extended period. You’ll lower your electricity bills and also reduce the likelihood of accidents occurring.
Remove spare keys that are usually hidden outside
Many households hide a set of spare keys outside the home in case somebody loses or forgets their keys and cannot get in. Yours might be under a doormat or behind a potted plant.
Remove these hidden spare keys when you’re away for an extended period to prevent prying hands from rooting them out. Instead, leave the keys with a trusted relative, friend or neighbor so they can enter your home in the event of an emergency.
Store valuables in a safe
If you have valuables that you absolutely cannot afford to lose, store them in a safe before you travel.
This could either be a safe deposit box at a bank or companies like CurtisCertis CISCO, or a safe installed in your own home.
Avoid announcing your trip on social media
Many people in Singapore now document their overseas holidays in minute detail on social media, but this is actually a bad idea from a security point of view.
Giving live updates of your trip broadcasts to the public that you are not at home. This could have disastrous consequences if those up to no good manage to find out where you live.
Protect your home with home contents insurance
Just as you should protect yourself with travel insurance when you go abroad, you should also protect your home with home contents insurance.
Home contents insurance protects the things inside the home you hold dear, including your valuables, furniture, renovations and more. With a home intents insurance policy from a trusted insurer like HL Assurance, you’ll be able to leave home with peace of mind.
Get Insured
Don’t leave home without both home contents insurance and travel insurance from HL Assurance. If you travel frequently, HL Assurance also has annual travel insurance for year-round coverage.