When you’re eagerly preparing for a vacation, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and post your plans on social media. But whether you’re on Facebook, Instagram, or X, it’s important to pause and think about how sharing too much could expose your home to unnecessary risks. Believe it or not, burglars can and do use social media to plan break-ins. Posting about your travel plans publicly may be all the information a burglar needs to target your home. But with a few simple precautions, you can still share your experiences while protecting your home.
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Theft Prevention Tips
No home is immune to the risk of theft. Whether you’re looking to protect your home while you’re on an extended vacation or simply at the office for the day, it’s important to take precautions to help deter criminals from targeting your property.
Be sure to utilize these theft prevention tips to keep your home secure and help mitigate the likelihood of burglaries while you’re away.
8 tips for RV safety in Atlanta
There are a lot of different ways to vacation. Maybe you’re planning on taking an RV trip with your family. Packing up and taking a trip is a great way to spend time with your family and have some bonding time. But driving an RV is not the same as driving a regular car. It’s bigger than a car, and heavier, and taller. That means that you’ve got to take some extra care to stay safe. Here are a few quick tips for RV safety.
8 tips for RV safety in Atlanta.
1. Know the weight the RV can handle.
It’s important to know the weight capacity of the RV. How much weight can it handle? You don’t want to overload the vehicle. Be sure to take note of the weight capacity – and follow it. Yes, you might be tempted to pack the RV to the roof, but don’t overwhelm the vehicle. The RV can only take so much.
2. Do a pre-trip inspection.
The RV also needs to be ready for the trip. It’s important to do a pre-trip inspection of your vehicle to make sure that the RV can handle the hours on the road. (You don’t want to be stuck on the side of the road, right?) So, be sure to check over the following:
- Tire pressure
- Tire tread depth
- Headlights
- Taillights
- Turn signals
- Belts
- Oil levels
- High/Other towing equipment
- Windshield wipers
Basically, make sure that your RV is all set and ready to roll! Even though your RV might do what you want it to under normal circumstances, it never hurts to make sure everything is working properly before you set off on your adventure.
3. Know the height of the vehicle.
You also need to know the height of your RV. Of course, an RV is a lot taller than a car, even if you’re used to driving something like a pick-up truck. Maybe it seems obvious, but remember – that RV is taller than one might think.
4. Be careful with your speed.
It’s also a good idea to slow down and take it easy with your speed. It’s especially crucial to be cautious when it gets dark or dusk starts falling. (And don’t forget to use your headlights appropriately when needed.) Maneuvering an RV can be much more challenging than driving a car, so drive at a safe, reasonable speed. (And slowing down is particularly important if you come to a curve in the road where it’s hard to see who’s coming.)
5. Don’t forget your seatbelt.
You also need to make sure everyone is buckled up safely. The seatbelt is a safety measure that can protect you should something happen. The RV is large and might seem indestructible, but wearing seatbelts is crucial. It just takes a second to click the seatbelt, and it’s a second that is well worth it.
6. Clear out food and trash.
After your trip, unpacking and cleaning might feel like the last thing you want to do. Still, take a second to clean out the RV. Take care of any leftover food. Get rid of the trash. You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to deal with a messy RV later.
7. Store the RV safely.
Okay, so you can’t exactly park an RV anywhere. It’s not like you can just stick it in a driveway. When you pick a spot to store your RV, make sure that it’s safe and secure. Your RV is valuable, so you need to protect it. Besides, you’ll feel better knowing that you’ve got a nice, cozy place to stash your RV.
8. Know what to do if an accident happens.
Not that you want to think about getting into an accident, but it’s not a bad idea to know what to do if something happens. That way you won’t be as flustered or panicked. Here are three quick steps to remember:
- Pull off the side of the road if possible
- Call the police
- Check that everyone’s okay
In the moment, remembering these three things can help you handle the situation.
RVs can be a lot of fun, but it’s important to stay safe. Even just a few simple things can help you as you embark on your trip. Don’t overlook the basics of RV safety and focus on having a relaxing, enjoyable trip.
And if you need RV insurance, we can help. Our team would be happy to help. Get started with your quotes for Atlanta RV insurance by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us. It’s important to make sure your RV is properly insured. (And we can also help with Atlanta home insurance, auto insurance, and renters insurance.)
14 steps to secure your Atlanta home and prevent burglary while you’re on vacation
If you’re planning a family vacation this summer, you’re probably looking forward to getting out of town for a little while. But in all the excitement, don’t forget to take some steps to secure your house before you leave. When you’re not there to keep an eye on things, your home can be susceptible to burglary. That’s why you need to outsmart the burglars and amp up the security around your house. The following tips can help you get your home ready for your vacation and prevent a burglary.
14 tips for home safety while you’re on vacation
1. Consider getting a home security system.
Monitored home security systems can help deter burglars from attempting to break into your house. They can also alert the police to a burglary and send them to your house quickly. If you don’t already have a security system, you may want to consider having one installed. And if you do have one, check that everything’s working properly before you head out on your trip.
The benefits of a home security system don’t stop at the added protection for your home. A home security system can help you save money on your home insurance because many insurance companies offer a discount if you have one. So, you can protect your home and save money on your insurance at the same time – it’s a win-win.
2. Know where all your keys are (and don’t hide a key outside.)
It’s important to know where each key to the house is so that none of them get misplaced or lost. Keep track of all keys.
Also, don’t leave a key hidden outside. Burglars know the best hiding places for house keys. Under the mat? Yep. In the potted plant? Yep. On the eaves? Yep. The burglars think that same way you do. So, if you think you’re outsmarting them…you might just be outsmarting yourself.
3. Lock everything.
Okay, we know this one’s a little “no duh.” But it’s still very important to double check that all windows and doors are securely locked before you leave for your trip. Don’t forget to do one last check that your home is locked up tight. Otherwise, you may as well yell, “Come on in, burglars!”
4. Do what you can to make sure your home looks occupied.
If your house looks dark and empty for a long period of time, it won’t take long for a burglar to figure out you’re not home. And they’re also looking for an easy target, which your home could be if you’re not home. To a burglar, they see a home that they can break into and skedaddle from with no one the wiser, perhaps for quite a while – long enough to make a clean getaway.
One way to make your home look lived-in is to get timers for your lights. The timers can turn the lights on and off at specific times so that it appears that someone’s moving around in the house. It makes it look like someone’s home, so your house becomes less of an easy mark.
5. Get someone to tend to your lawn.
An overgrown, slightly shaggy lawn can be a dead giveaway that no one’s home. Ask a neighbor or friend to mow your lawn and tend to any other landscaping tasks. It may seem like a small detail, but why not? It’s better to play it safe.
6. Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out for any flyers, packages, and so on.
Ask a trusted neighbor to look out for anything suspicious around your home. Advertisements stuck to the mailbox or flyers hanging from the doorknob can indicate that there’s no one home to throw them away. You can stop your paper and your mail, but sometimes people come and leave ads on the mailbox or on the driveway. It’s not a bad idea to have someone looking out for your place.
7. Put a hold on your mail.
You may want to stop your mail while you’re away so that it’s not piling up and doesn’t turn into Mount Mail outside your house. Or if you’ve got someone coming over to check on your house or feed the cat, you can ask them to bring the mail in every day.
8. Stop your newspapers.
Hmm…a pile of newspapers outside your house, dotting the driveway…That house looks like a good one to rob.
Newspapers piling up can be another sign that you’re not home. Either stop your newspaper or have your pet-sitter/house-sitter pick them up and bring them inside.
9. Move your valuables out of sight.
If you can, it’s not a bad plan to move your valuables so they’re out of sight. May as well not leave your expensive electronics in plain sight where potential burglars would be tempted. If you have jewelry and such, you might want to consider getting a hidden safe to keep those things super secure.
10. Be smart when you’re talking about your vacation plans.
It’s not the best plan to go broadcasting your vacation plans and blabbing about when you’re not going to be in town. You never know who could be listening to your conversation. Only tell people who need to know about the details of your travels and be discreet when you do. Tell your kids to be careful about it, too.
And another thing:
Don’t talk about your travel plans on social media, and try to refrain from posting pictures while you’re on your trip. It’s best to not inform the whole world where you are. Wait until you’re back to post your vacation pictures.
11. Consider getting outdoor automatic lights.
Light can be a major deterrent to burglars. You can think about getting exterior lights that run on timers so that they’ll come on every night and flood your yard with light.
12. Get a neighbor to pull your trashcan to the curb on trash pickup day.
Ask a neighbor to take your trashcan and recycling to the curb for pickup day and then put them away. That will help it look like you’re home. And then the trash won’t get too stinky either.
13. Unplug your electronics.
You can save money on your electrical bill by unplugging any electronics that aren’t necessary while you’re away (the fridge, of course, will have to stay on unless you want to come home to spoiled food.) This will also help you prevent an electrical fire while you’re away.
14. Consider getting a pet-sitter or house-sitter to stay at your house while you’re gone.
Asking someone that you trust to stay at your house can help you keep your house safe. Besides, if you have pets, you’ll need someone to check on them anyway. They’ll be able to keep an eye on your home – and check that no pipes have burst, no fires have started, and no disasters have happened. They can also get the mail, pick up the papers, take out the trash, and so on. And if you have cats or dogs, you’ll feel better knowing they have someone to keep them company and look after them.
Going on vacation is great, but you have to take steps to protect your home if you’re going on a road trip or traveling somewhere. Before you leave, take some time to ensure that everything is shipshape at home.
Another way to protect your home is to get home insurance. Our team can help you get Atlanta home insurance quotes from some of the top carriers in the country. We’ll help you get the best coverage at the best rate so you can get the insurance that’s right for you and save money. To get in touch with our team, all you have to do is fill out our online form or give us a call.