Snowbirds: Fly south, worry free!

If you have a second home, in a warmer climate, you’re probably starting to think about heading that direction soon. Before you go, make sure your home is safe from burglars, pests, and water damage.

To discourage burglars, use timers on both exterior and interior lights, and close drapes and shades to make it harder to see in. You should also put a hold on your mail and newspaper, and ask a trusted friend or neighbor to come by each day to pick up any flyers or packages that might be left on the porch or at the door.

Nothing says “we’re not home” like old snow in your driveway or walkway days after a storm. If you live in an area that gets snow over the winter, schedule someone to plow your driveway and shovel your walkways while you’re away. You may want to clean your home’s gutters and drains also, to ensure that water won’t freeze, causing damage to your roof.

To prevent water damage due to frozen, burst or leaking pipes, either shut off your water main and drain the pipes or install an automatic water leak detection and water shut-off system. It can save you huge headaches and costs if a pipe or faucet leaks while you’re gone.

Before you leave, notify not only family and close friends, but the police and your home security company that you’ll be away. That way, if something happens, the people who need you will know where to find you. You may even want to have a local contractor’s number on hand in case you need emergency repairs done quickly.

If you’re not around, why spend money on electricity? Unplug computers, TVs and other electronics, and turn off washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers. You may even want to empty, clean out, and turn off your refrigerator. Leave the doors open and leave baking soda inside to cut down on any odors. If you don’t turn off the fridge, at least turn off the ice maker and empty the ice bin.

If you have a landline telephone, turn the ringer off or forward your calls to your other location, so passersby don’t hear your phone ringing continually.

While you want to save money on your energy bills, set your thermostat no lower than 65° F, and consider installing a temperature monitor that will notify you if the temperature in your home drops below a certain level. This can help prevent your pipes from freezing and bursting.

Close the chimney flue to keep out squirrels, bats, or birds. Lock all windows and doors and trim back brush and hedges from your home, so that burglars can’t hide while they try to break in. If you have a sliding glass door, install slide locks so it can’t be pried open.

If you have collectibles in your home, you may want to have them professionally stored while you’re away, as changes in temperature and humidity can cause damage to some art and antiques.

Take photos of high-value items in your home and take a complete inventory of what you have. An app like HomeZada, available to Chubb clients at an exclusive discount, can help you create the inventory, manage maintenance tasks, and send you reminders while you’re away. That way, if something happens over the winter, you’ll be able to let both the police and insurance company know exactly what it was.