Tips for Homeowners Traveling Down South For Winter

Before leaving your home up north, you should consider these things:

1)Establish a way of paying your bills (electronically, forwarding your mail, or automatic payments are all good options)

2)Have a neighbor or hire someone to periodically check on your home. Have them check to make sure that all is in order and that nothing has happened such as a broken pipe, leaking roof, or a break-in.

3)Make sure that your lawn/landscaping is maintained. Overgrown grass or piled-up snow is a sure sign that your home is unoccupied. You don’t want to leave an open invitation to burglars.

4)Consider investing in an alarm system. Make sure that the alarm system is armed and that authorized people have the codes to disarm the system.

5)Have your mail forwarded to your southern locale.

6)Check your insurance policies. Do you need to update your policy to include your other home? Does your auto insurance policy need to be altered to include the extended miles that you will be traveling?

7) Before you leave your northern home check your exterior lighting – do you have motion sensors? Do they look broken from the outside? A burglar will see this and know they don’t work, you could be a target

8) Check your roof before you leave your northern home – make sure gutters (if you have them) are secure and your roof is “intact” – no shingles are lifted. You could come home in the Spring to find that your roof is leaking.

9)After you have arrived at your other home away from home, make sure to double-check and see if the condition of your southern home is still up to par. Are all of the windows and doors still locked? Are your belongings still there? Has there been any sign of burglary?

10)Make sure that there are no unwanted pests such as bugs, stinging insects, or termites in your home.

11)Check to see if there are any signs of water damage. Do you see or smell any mold?

12)Have the roof checked to make sure that there are no leaks. Florida has experienced a very rainy season this past summer and it could have affected your roof.

If you notice any of the above mishaps, contact your insurance agent. These mishaps might be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy. Our experienced insurance agents are ready to assist you with all of your homeowner’s insurance needs. We serve Southwest Florida and have two insurance offices in Ft. Myers and Naples. Contact Us Today!