Home Protection: More Than Your Insurance Policy
Homeowners, landlords, and renters alike should be acutely aware of the fact that liability risks lurk in every corner of their property. Thank God for the availability and affordability of insurance coverage. Despite the genuine peace of mind that insurance policies provide policyholders, there are active steps that must be taken to prevent loss and damage, in particular the potential theft, theft, and vandalism that illegal trespassers and marauders can perpetuate. .
Underlining the thought are the 1.5 million reported burglaries that occurred in the United States last year and proactive means of securing a home is one of the top defense tactics for any home or apartment dweller.
Here’s the question though: does keeping your outdoor lights on prevent lurking criminals from breaking into your home?
In all likelihood, anyone reading this article will emphatically nod with a resounding yes. Surprisingly, the answer is not always yes!
Those involved in related insurance claims have conducted the appropriate investigation. They the following tips on how to use your outdoor lights to your advantage.
Four Outdoor Lighting Tips for Home and Condo Owners or Renters
1. Keep exterior lights on when it is dark outside. The advantages of this are two: a) the would-be thief understands that there are people inside; b) he improves his own visibility from the inside, allowing him to notice marauders lurking on his property.
2. Keep exterior lights on after night falls. In addition to the above benefits, this also illuminates your path when you get home, giving you quick access to your home should an unwanted intruder be detected.
3. Don’t keep outside lights on when the sun is still out. This sends a message to prowlers that you have intentionally left the light on while you were away or on vacation.
4. Do not store your outdoor lights if you live in a rural area and are not near another house or building. Leaving the lights on in this case puts your house on a criminal’s radar. Undeterred by the fear of others, the thief can target his house specifically because of the lights that illuminate it.
Is there anything else a landlord or tenant can do to protect themselves from thieves? Insurance specialists say yes: keep your property. Mow the grass, trim the shrubbery, and keep your surroundings looking neat by doing your own yard work or hiring a landscaping company. This will show intruders that your home is not unoccupied and not a perfect mark for a burglary.