The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) reminds people who are traveling during the holiday season that taking a few simple steps before you leave can keep your home or business safe while you are away.
"Property protection measures are crucial for unoccupied homes and businesses," said Julie Rochman, IBHS president and CEO. "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 IBHS brochure "Is Your Home Alone?" outlines things property owners can do to protect their homes while they are vacant. Among the most important things homeowners should do include:
Keep wind and water out - Ice and snow accumulation on tree branches could cause them to break off and fall. You should routinely inspect trees on your property and make sure limbs and branches are cut back 5 feet to 6 feet from roof and wall surfaces. Check for signs of roof leaks and have any leaks fixed. Clean gutters to ensure good drainage; this will reduce the chances of ice dam formation.
Don't let it get too cold - Thermostats in a vacant home should be set to no lower than 68 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.
Shut off the water and gas - Water heaters, appliances, and pipes (PVC and copper) can leak or burst, which can cause major damage in an unattended home. The best protection is to shut the main water supply valve. When shutting the water off, also turn off power or gas to the water heater (or the gas company can do this for you).
Leave electricity on - Advise utility companies of dates that the house will be vacant. 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 smart phones and other handheld devices.
Install exterior and interior motion or timed lighting - This will act to ward off potential animal infestation and criminal activity, and give the appearance that someone is home.
Try to make the property appear occupied - This will help reduce the risks of vandalism or other crime. Have a snow removal service plow your driveway and clear sidewalks and steps. Have the service remove snow off the roof to prevent collapse or water entry as the snow melts.
IBHS' "Steps to Protecting Vacant Commercial Property" provides guidance on what business owners should do to keep their businesses safe when nobody is there. In addition to the steps listed above, IBHS recommends the following:
Advise local fire and police departments that your building is unoccupied, and provide them with keys and/or contact information in the event of an emergency.
Advise your alarm company of the vacancy, create new security codes, and update contact information.
Ensure pollutants, chemicals or combustible materials are returned to and stored in appropriate protective cabinets and containers. Inform the fire department that there are flammable or toxic materials stored in the building and their location(s).
Visit for more information about how to make your property more resistant to a variety of disasters, big and small.
About the IBHS
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.
