10 Tips to keep your house safe and secure

An empty house can be a target for burglaries and other crimes because it is unoccupied and may not have anyone checking on it regularly.

It is important to take steps to protect an empty house to prevent break-ins and other issues.

Expert tips for keeping your empty house safe and secure:

Keep the house secure: Make sure all doors and windows are locked and consider installing a security system with sensors on doors and windows. Consider using deadbolts or other secure locking mechanisms on exterior doors.
Make the house look occupied: Use timers on lights and electronics to give the impression that someone is home. Leave a car in the driveway or ask a neighbor to park in front of the house.
Maintain the property: Keep the lawn trimmed and the house well-maintained to give the impression that someone is taking care of the property. This can also make it more difficult for burglars to approach the house undetected.
Don’t advertise the fact that the house is empty: Avoid posting about being away on social media or telling people that the house will be unoccupied. This can make the house a target for burglaries.
Consider a house sitter: If you will be away for an extended period of time, consider hiring a house sitter to stay at the house and keep an eye on things. This can provide an extra layer of security and give you peace of mind while you are away.
Keep valuables out of sight: Don’t leave valuable items, such as electronics or jewelry, in plain view. This can make the house more attractive to burglars.
Use window locks: Consider installing window locks or using devices such as dowels to prevent windows from being opened from the outside.
Secure outdoor areas: Don’t leave ladders or other tools lying around that could be used to gain access to the house. Keep outdoor areas well-lit to deter burglars.
Install outdoor security cameras: Security cameras can deter burglars and help you keep an eye on the house while you are away.
Inform trusted neighbours: Let trusted neighbours know that you will be away and ask them to keep an eye on the house.

By following these tips, you can help protect your empty house and keep it safe while you are away. It is important to take steps to secure the house and make it less attractive to burglars to prevent break-ins and other issues.

If you need unoccupied home insurance, why not try Insuristic for a quote.

About the Author: Rob Faulkner

Rob Faulkner is a leading expert in executor insurance risk and probate insurance, with nearly 30 years’ experience in the UK insurance market. He is the founder of Insuristic, a specialist provider of probate-related insurance solutions and educational content for executors.

Rob is an ACII Chartered Insurance Broker, a Chartered Manager, and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. His background spans insurers, brokers, and Insurtechs, always focused on innovation, transparency, simplicity, and fair value.

He’s passionate about helping everyday people, executors, beneficiaries, and law firms choose the right probate property insurance or unoccupied home insurance, without jargon, inflated fees, or hidden commissions.

Rob is especially passionate about product development and improving insurance education through marketing, helping people understand what they are buying. These values sit at the heart of everything we do at Insuristic.

Want to learn more? Visit my author page or follow me on LinkedIn.