Protecting Your Home While You’re Away on Vacation

Whether you’re heading to the Cape for the weekend or taking a longer trip out of state, you don’t want to spend your time away worrying about break-ins or break-downs at home. Though property crime decreased an estimated 12.4% between 2024 and 2025, break-ins still happen. Most often, they occur when homes are unoccupied. But burglaries aren’t the only incidents that happen while homeowners are away — burst pipes, water damage, and other events can also cause issues when you’re away for days or weeks at a time.

Your homeowner’s insurance is there to protect you if these issues occur. But even with a strong policy, it’s a good idea to take precautionary measures to prevent them from happening in the first place. Let’s break down the simple steps you can take to protect your home (and your wallet) before heading out on vacation.

Protect Against Common Disasters

Water damage, system failures, and security issues are all-too-common while homeowners are away on vacation. Take these steps to protect your home from incurring serious damage:

• Lock all doors and windows.
• Clean your gutters.
• Service your HVAC systems as needed.
• Seal any small holes leading outdoors to prevent animals from entering.
• Add batteries to smoke alarms when they’re due.
• Consider installing a smart water valve to alert you to leaks (smart valves can also automatically turn off your water supply to prevent flooding).
• If you don’t have a smart water valve, consider preemptively shutting off your main water valve, or turn off valves to individual systems.
• New England winters are notoriously cold, so if your trip occurs during the chillier months, keep your thermostat above 55°F to prevent burst pipes. In the summer, set it to a maximum of 78°F to prevent mold growth, warping, and strain on your cooling systems.

Do Your Chores

• Keeping up with these simple tasks day-to-day and ensuring you complete them before you leave will help your home stay clean, safe, and hazard-free. Before traveling, you should always:
• Empty your trash bins.
• Run your garbage disposal.
• Clear perishable food from your countertops.
• Unplug appliances, lamps, and televisions.
• Run your washing machine and/or dishwasher at least 48 hours before you leave. You shouldn’t set these appliances to run as you’re walking out the door, in case they malfunction or leak.

Secure Your Home

In 2023 alone, break-ins cost the average homeowner $2,661. To prevent theft and claims, install a security system with these features:

• Smart locks
• Cameras
• House alarms
• Video doorbells
• Motion-activated lights
• Window and door sensors
• Yard signs

Don’t forget to set your security system to “away” mode when you’re traveling.

It’s also a good idea to secure any valuables you own in a locked closet or safe while you’re away. Document valuables in an itemized list, and be sure to take photos and keep receipts or appraisals. Good documentation goes a long way when you need to file a homeowner’s insurance claim.

Make It Look Like Someone Is Home

Wondering how to make it look like somebody’s home while you’re away on vacation? Here are a few key strategies:

• Use light timers. Program them to turn on the lights in your living room or kitchen for a few hours each night.
• Install smart lightbulbs. These lightbulbs often have “vacation modes” that enable your lights to randomly turn on and off throughout the day.
• Hold your mail. With USPS hold service, you can stop deliveries for up to 30 days. If you’ll be gone for longer than a month, you can set up temporary mail forwarding to a trusted address.
• Keep your lawn mowed. Hire a landscaping service or ask a friend or family member to mow your yard. Nothing says “nobody’s home” like overgrown grass.
• Ask a neighbor to pull your trash bins to the curb. Be sure the neighbor is someone you trust, and ask them to bring the bins back in again after trash day.
• Use social media with caution. Especially if you have a public account, posting while you’re on vacation can inadvertently tell burglars that no one is home.

Prepare for Future Insurance Claims

It’s a good idea to review the details of your homeowner’s insurance policy with your local agent to understand how you’re covered while you’re on vacation. For instance, many homeowner’s policies may reduce or change your coverage when your home is considered vacant (often after just 30 to 60 days).

If you’re going to be away for a long period, find out whether you need to add a special vacant home endorsement to your policy. Alternatively, you may need to purchase a separate unoccupied home insurance policy.

Before you leave, also be sure to document the condition of your home by taking some photos and videos. Keep copies of any maintenance records. Lastly, as mentioned above, document any valuables kept in your home with photos and receipts. By keeping good records, it’ll be easier to file claims and receive payouts in a timely manner if needed.

Vacation Home and High-Value Home Insurance

If you own a vacation home, a high-value home, or multiple properties, you likely need more than a standard homeowner’s insurance policy. Get in touch with an agent at C&S Insurance today to see how you can save on vacation home insurance and high-value home insurance in New England.