Medium Vacation

Many people go away for a vacation. Some are gone for a short term vacation for just a couple days, while others are Canadian Snowbirds who spend the winter in southern climates. Many people will go away for two or three week vacation. This is the best time to make arrangements for someone to look after your homes security. Regardless of how long you are gone, someone should look after your homes security while you are absent and conduct a regular home inspections of your home to ensure that not only has no one has compromised your homes security, but that your furnace is working properly and there are no water leaks from frozen pipes and plumbing, etc.

Most insurance companies will demand that someone visit the house every day especially in cold winter climates. They worry less about your homes security being compromised than they do about leaking plumbing that can cause significant insurance claims especially in the winter time.

There are several steps that you can take that will give you peace of mind and the personal security in knowing that your home is being looked after.

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If you are leaving for a one or two week vacation or even up to one month, there are a number of steps that you should take to ensure there are no problems while you are away. Arrange with a neighbor or relative to have someone look after your home while you are away. If you are uncomfortable with asking neighbors and relatives consider a professional property management company to check on your home at regular intervals.

Whomever you ask to look after your home,let them know were to call you if there is some emergency. You should leave them with a key and also the pass code if you have a security system. We have listed some of these in the web site listed below under tips to secure your home. We have also included a partial list of items for you to consider to prepare your home while you are away.

Install timers to make the house appear to be lived in
Consider leaving your radio on to give the impression someone is home
Turn off your water heater to save energy and to avoid it boiling dry if you turn off the water
Turn off all outside water taps
Turn off the main water valve in your home, however you should run the water once a month to avoid toilets running dry from evaporation
Turn off all taps to things such as dishwashers and clothes washers
Disconnect all electronic items (Note: only unplug the refrigerator if it is empty)
Advise your alarm company of your absence and provide a contact to call in an emergency
Advise neighbors and close friends of your absence
Arrange for Snow clearance in the winter
Arrange for yard maintenance in the growing seasons
Arrange for plant watering inside and out
Arrange for pool or hot tub maintenance if required
Arrange for automatic payment of utilities such as Gas, Hydro, Water, Cable & Telephone
Arrange for Telephone service to be put on hold unless your alarm system is monitored
Arrange for your cable service to put on hold while you are away
Arrange for additional health insurance if needed
Arrange for pet sitting or a stay at a local kennel
Provide an itinerary with phone numbers to neighbors or a house sitter to contact you with
Provide Insurance, Vet and any other emergency numbers to the person managing your home
Call Insurance company to confirm how often house must be checked inside to maintain insurance coverage.
Arrange with professional house sitter to watch over your house
Arrange to stop newspaper delivery
Arrange for mail pickup

Please feel free to email us with additional items at Email: contact@GCCIhome.com We will be pleased to add your items to our list.

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