Holiday security checklist for your house, contents and vehicle insurance

With Christmas and the holiday period fast approaching, now is the time to make sure your covers are in place.

Make sure your cover is right before the holidays

With Christmas and the holiday period fast approaching, now is the time to make sure your covers are in place. If you are heading away, or even just spending more time out and about, it is worth checking whether your house, contents and vehicle insurance still match the value of what you own and how you live.

A lot can change during the year. You may have bought new furniture, upgraded appliances, added bikes, or changed the way your car is used. If your sums insured or policy details are out of date, you could be underinsured at the exact time you need cover most. That is why it makes sense to review things before the summer break begins, not after a loss.

If you need to check that the current levels of cover for your house, contents and vehicle insurance are correct, please contact us today. We can assist by ensuring you are not risking your most valuable assets over the holiday period.

Why the holiday period brings extra risk

The holiday season is busy, and that creates opportunities for theft and damage. Many homes are left empty for longer than usual, neighbours are away, and deliveries can stack up on the doorstep. Vehicles are also often parked in unfamiliar places, loaded with gifts, or used for longer trips.

For insurers, the holiday period is not a special category with different rules, but it is a time when avoidable risks become more common. A simple mistake, like leaving keys visible, advertising travel plans online, or leaving valuables in plain sight, can make a property an easier target.

The good news is that most of the practical steps that reduce risk are straightforward. They do not cost much, and in many cases they can be done in an afternoon. The key is to think like someone looking for a weak point in the home, then close off those easy options before you leave.

Check your insurance coverage before you go

Review your home and contents insurance to ensure it is up to date. That means checking the insured amount, the excess, and any special items that need to be listed separately. It also means making sure the policy details still reflect the reality of your home and contents.

If you have made improvements, bought additional belongings, or changed storage arrangements, your current cover may no longer be right. A policy that was suitable last year can become outdated quickly. It is also worth confirming that your car cover is correct, especially if you are taking it on a long trip, parking it in a new place, or loaning it to someone else.

This is where Smiths can help in a way most people cannot do alone. We can review the cover you already have, identify gaps or overlaps, and help you work out whether your house, contents and vehicle insurance still suit your circumstances. We can also explain the fine print in plain English, which matters when policy wording is the difference between a smooth claim and a surprise later on.

Simple steps that make your home less attractive to thieves

A lot of holiday security comes down to appearance. If a house looks occupied, organised, and watched, it is less attractive to opportunistic thieves. The following practical steps can help:

• Avoid social media announcements. Do not advertise your travel plans online to prevent alerting potential intruders.
• Enlist a trusted neighbour. Ask a neighbour or friend to collect mail, take out and bring in bins, and keep an eye on your property.
• Hide valuables. Keep expensive items, like jewellery or electronics, out of sight of windows.
• Install motion-activated lights. Place them around entryways to deter nighttime intruders.
• Do not leave spare keys outside. Avoid hiding keys under mats and in flower pots. Instead, leave them with a trusted friend.
• Pause deliveries. Suspend newspaper and package deliveries to prevent a build-up that signals your absence.

These are basic steps, but they matter. A property with a pile of newspapers, full letterbox, and no lights on at night tells a clear story. A house that looks lived in is harder to target.

If you are going away for more than a few days, it can also help to set a simple routine before you leave. Check doors and windows twice, remove spare keys from obvious hiding spots, and let someone reliable know when you expect to be away and when you will be back.

Add a few extra layers of protection

Once the obvious gaps are fixed, add some extra layers of deterrence. These do not guarantee your home will never be targeted, but they can make it less appealing and buy you time if someone does try their luck.

• Secure sliding doors. Place a rod or dowel in the track to prevent forced opening.
• Use dummy security signs. Place alarm system or Beware of Dog signs to deter intruders.
• Install timers for lights. Use timer switches for indoor and outdoor lights to create the illusion that someone is home.

These measures are simple, but they work best when used together. For example, lights on a timer, a neighbour collecting mail, and no public holiday post on social media all combine to make it harder for someone to tell whether the house is empty.

If you already have an alarm, now is also the time to check it is actually working. Test the system, replace flat batteries, and make sure family members know how to use it. If you rely on external lighting, check bulbs and timers before you leave, not after you return to a dark driveway.

Protect the things people forget about

Insurance and security planning is not just about the house itself. It also includes what is inside it, what is parked outside it, and what is left behind in transit. Vehicles, trailers, bikes, outdoor furniture, tools, and portable electronics can all be part of the holiday risk picture.

Contents cover is especially important if you are taking valuables away with you or leaving expensive items in the home. Vehicle cover matters too, because holiday driving often means more kilometres, more parking in unfamiliar places, and more chances for small damage. If you have a boat, camper, or other seasonal gear, it is worth checking whether those items are insured and stored properly.

Smiths can help you look at the whole picture, not just the individual policy. That can be useful if you are unsure whether an item belongs under home cover, contents cover, or vehicle cover. It can also help if you are not sure whether your current policy limits are enough for the value of what you own.

The point is not to overcomplicate things. The point is to make sure the insurance you already pay for is actually doing the job you think it is doing.

What to do next: if you want a no-obligation review of your house, contents or vehicle insurance before the holidays, contact Smiths. We can check your cover, talk through any gaps, and help you put the right protections in place before you head into the busy season.