fbpx

How to protect your home when you are away?

Last updated on July 28th, 2021
  Written by 
Bill Tsouvalas
Bill Tsouvalas is the managing director and a key company spokesperson at Savvy. As a personal finance expert, he often shares his insights on a range of topics, being featured on leading news outlets including News Corp publications such as the Daily Telegraph and Herald Sun, Fairfax Media publications such as the Australian Financial Review, the Seven Network and more. Bill has over 15 years of experience working in the finance industry and founded Savvy in 2010 with a vision to provide affordable and accessible finance options to all Australians. He has built Savvy from a small asset finance brokerage into a financial comparison website which now attracts close to 2 million Aussies per year and was included in the BRW’s Fast 100 in 2015 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the country. He’s passionate about helping Australians make financially savvy decisions and reviews content across the brand to ensure its accuracy. You can follow Bill on LinkedIn.
Our authors



Fact checked

At Savvy, we are committed to providing accurate information. Our content undergoes a rigorous process of fact-checking before it is published. Learn more about our editorial policy.

At Savvy, our mission is to empower you to make informed financial choices. While we maintain stringent editorial standards, this article may include mentions of products offered by our partners. Here’s how we generate income.

With the holiday season in full season, which means more time to kick back and relax and ticking off things you wanted to do on your bucket list, you may forget to do something very important. Do you have a plan in place to protect your home while you are away on holiday? We have put together a checklist of things to do before you pack up and disappear into the sunset.

Have you ensured your home is leak proof?

Having a burst geyser or taps that have been left open by mistake can be costly. Not only will it damage your valuables while you are away, but it could also cause your water bill to skyrocket. Check for any problem areas such as dripping taps or taps that need to be fixed. You can make use of professional services to check for items that are hidden behind walls such as pipes. Planning this a week or two in advance before you take your holiday can give you ample time to check all areas of your house. Double check that all taps are closed before you leave.

Have you paid your bills?

The holiday spirit can catch the most disciplined of us which can result in unplanned spending. According to the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), Australians are set to spend $51 billion this holiday season. Furthermore, 83% of Aussies that had a budget said they overstepped their budget when travelling overseas. This can throw a spanner in the works if you have not paid bills such as your utilities, credit card fees, and other accounts. Before going on holiday check that you have paid any upcoming bills. You can also choose to automate your payments if your bill dates fall on a day where you are away on holiday.

Are all systems on standby?

Check if your smoke detector alarms are working and whether your security systems are functioning in all areas of your house. Investing in security features that still function when there is a power cut can be useful for when you are away. This can give you peace of mind knowing your home is secure at all times of the day.

Have you unplugged?

Go through every room of your house and check if there are unnecessary appliances plugged in. This can help you reduce the electric bill and protect your appliances from electrical surges that could potentially damage your appliances or items. If these are valuable appliances such as Laptops, ensure that this is stored in a secure place.

Have you put your lights on a timer?

When the lights are off the thieves come to play. Having your lights on a timer can help you keep the lights on in your house at certain times so that people can think you are at home. This comes in handy in the sense that they switch off in the morning so that your electric bill doesn’t go up.

Have a reliable neighbour check in on your house

Having a trustworthy neighbour check on your house can be beneficial for those emergencies or a general check-up. This can give you added peace of mind knowing that there is someone who will be able to contact you.

Did you find this page helpful?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!

This guide provides general information and does not consider your individual needs, finances or objectives. We do not make any recommendation or suggestion about which product is best for you based on your specific situation and we do not compare all companies in the market, or all products offered by all companies. It’s always important to consider whether professional financial, legal or taxation advice is appropriate for you before choosing or purchasing a financial product.

The content on our website is produced by experts in the field of finance and reviewed as part of our editorial guidelines. We endeavour to keep all information across our site updated with accurate information.

Approval for home loans is always subject to our lender’s terms, conditions and qualification criteria. Lenders will undertake a credit check in line with responsible lending obligations to help determine whether you’re in a position to take on the loan you’re applying for.

The interest rate, comparison rate, fees and monthly repayments will depend on factors specific to your profile, such as your financial situation, as well as others, such as the loan’s size and your chosen repayment term. Costs such as broker fees, redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, aren’t included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts may result in a different comparison rate.

In this article

Share this article

Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Share on pinterest

Looking for a home loan?

Compare Australia’s reputed home loan lenders with us and save.

* Terms and conditions and lending criteria apply.

Smart money saving tips

Subscribe to our newsletter.

By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy

Related articles

Easily compare home loan options today

We compare home loan options for you so you can be assured you’re seeing the most competitive interest rates available in Australia.