Okay, here it is, Ontario homeowners. This is tip number one, and the one that hardly anybody mentions or that anybody knows. It's buried in the fine print of your insurance policy, but may make all the difference between “accepted” and “Denied” on your next insurance claim.
If you plan to be away from home for more than a few days, be aware that in Ontario, you MUST have “a responsible person” as designated by your insurer, enter and personally check the physical integrity of your house EVERY DAY during heating season, and every three days during the rest of the year.
Call your insurer and get confirmation, and please take appropriate action before going on your next trip. Don’t come back to burst pipes and a flooded out house, and find out you’re all on your own. Don't expect your insurance company to give you a break after the fact. If they can legally weasel out of paying out on a huge claim, they will.
If you live outside of Ontario, but nevertheless, in a temperate climate, call your insurance company and see if this rule applies for your policy too.
To protect yourself against having a denied claim – trade off house sitting with a trusted friend or neighbour, or hire a reputable house-sitting service.
If you live outside of Ontario, but nevertheless, in a temperate climate, call your insurance company and see if this rule applies for your policy too.
To protect yourself against having a denied claim – trade off house sitting with a trusted friend or neighbour, or hire a reputable house-sitting service.
Even after you temporarily halt mail, and paper delivery prior to a trip, fliers, neighborhood newspapers, and unexpected trash can and will accumulate giving your front entrance an “away from home” look. A house sitter, can also change the configuration of drapes, turn lights on and off, move the car in and out of the garage, shovel snow, pick up trash, and perform various other small tasks to give the house a lived in look.
And when you are away from your home, even for only a short while, don't leave notes on the door such as, "I will return at 4:00 p.m." or, "I will be back in town until next Tuesday." Such "Gone fishing," notes also let burglars know their break-ins probably won't be interrupted by the residents.
And when you are away from your home, even for only a short while, don't leave notes on the door such as, "I will return at 4:00 p.m." or, "I will be back in town until next Tuesday." Such "Gone fishing," notes also let burglars know their break-ins probably won't be interrupted by the residents.
Lights that remain lit day and night is an indication that no one is home. You can buy a simple programmable timer from a hardware store for under $20.00, and set it so that a few lamps and maybe a radio will automatically turn on and off at various times, to give your house a "lived in" feel.
Remember, you can probably get a sense of when your neighbours are in or out, with just a casual glance at their house. So have a look at your own house with a critical eye just before you go away and make some changes.
You might also consider installing lighting controlled by motion sensor. Nothing makes an intruder’s heart jump more than lights.
Remember, you can probably get a sense of when your neighbours are in or out, with just a casual glance at their house. So have a look at your own house with a critical eye just before you go away and make some changes.
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