Summer is here and more and more people are traveling. We talked with Courtney Klosterman, Home Insights Expert at Hippo, the home insurance group focused on proactive home protection, for the tips on how to help protect your home when traveling this summer.
Whether you’re jumping on a jet plane or road tripping with friends, leaving your home for an extended period of time can be intimidating. You need to ensure your home is safe when you’re gone — and that means taking lots of precautions and preventative measures.
Why is it important to take preventative measures to help protect your home?
It’s uncomfortable to imagine the worst-case scenario happening while you’re away, but preparing ahead can help minimize the risks to your home.
Completing home maintenance tasks before you travel doesn’t just help prevent accidents from happening — it can also save you from the financial headache of covering any damages.
Our 2022 Housepower Report revealed that more than half (59%) of homeowners had something unexpected go wrong and on average, homeowners spent nearly $6,000 on home repairs and maintenance in 2022.
When you stomp out potential problems by being proactive, you’ll help keep home repairs at bay, minimize your financial burden, and feel a greater peace of mind when you’re traveling.
Activate preventative smart tech to protect your home
Smart home technology is a valuable resource as a homeowner. Certain devices help prevent common home issues from turning into bigger, more expensive problems. Water leaks, for example, can cause severe damage to your home, especially when left unattended, but smart leak detectors can help. You can place smart leak detectors in areas where water is known to pool, such as your basement or under your sinks, then get alerts to your phone if anything goes wrong.
If you don’t already have smart tech installed, we recommend equipping your home with the following devices before you travel:
- Security system (e.g. Ring, SimpliSafe, or Notion)
- Smart leak detectors
- Smart thermostat
- Smart lock with remote access
Take a look at Hippo’s home maintenance checklist to see if you have every item covered before you travel away from home.
4 tips to prepare your home before traveling:
Try these four strategies for better home protection before you travel:
- Protect your home from seasonal hazards – Proactive prevention and upkeep keeps your home in good condition all year long — and helps prevent damage and disasters. After cleaning your home for a trip, review Hippo’s seasonal home maintenance checklist and take the time to prepare your home for summer conditions. Depending on where you live, that might involve clearing brush for wildfires, checking your eaves for wasp nests, or changing out your air conditioning filters.
- Activate smart devices and test systems before you travel – One of the advantages of installing digital smart devices is that you can stay connected when you’re away. It’s important to set up, activate, and test all your devices before leaving to ensure they’re working properly.
- Do a walkthrough of your home – Before heading out on your trip for the summer, do a final walkthrough of your home to tie up any loose ends and tighten your security. Adjust your air conditioning or heating system, turn off your water, put your lights on a timer, and check your security system. It’s also a good idea to note your home’s condition and compare it once you return from your trip.
- Take care of small repairs – Address any easy repairs before you leave, so they don’t turn into bigger problems. Think: tightening your faucet or patching a siding crack.
Make sure your home is prepared to handle your summer plans. Taking a few simple steps before you travel this summer can keep your home protected — and give you peace of mind while you’re away.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
