Christmas is a time to enjoy yourself, not to think negative thoughts. However, it’s still important to take a few simple precautions, in order to ensure that you don’t look back on this holiday as a nightmare, instead of a dream. Not to mention making sure that, if anything does go wrong, your insurer’s Loss Adjuster has no reason to turn down your insurance claim.
Christmas decorations should be gleaming with light, but that needs to be managed safely. If you have electric fairy lights strewn everywhere, make sure that you get them from a reputable retailer, and that they conform to British Safety Standards. Cheap, inferior lights could give you an electric shock, or else overheat and set fire to the decorations.
That’s also a risk if you’re using candles, of course, so be sure everything’s fireproofed. And, if your idea of Christmas is to relax in front of a roaring fire, make sure sparks can’t leap out onto the carpet. Just as important, too, is to have your chimney regularly swept.
Is Your Home Secure for Christmas?
Christmas can be a bonanza time for burglars, what with homes stuffed with new possessions and many people away for the break. Make sure your locks all comply with the British standard BS 3621 — that’s likely to be one of the first things the Loss Adjuster will look at if you have to make an insurance claim for loss of possessions.
Security is important all the time, of course, not just for Christmas. It would be well worth thinking about investing in exterior sensor lights or security cameras. They don’t cost the earth these days, and they’re often easy enough for any competent DIYer to fit. Some models will link up with your smartphone and warn you if they’ve been set off.
And lastly, as always when you’re away, don’t make it too obvious that your home is empty. If it’s going to be more than a few days, ask a friend or neighbour to take in post and open and close the curtains — or you could invest in a timer for your lights. And please, please, don’t advertise on social media that you’re away. Wait till you’re safely home to post your Christmas snaps.
Allied Claims would like to wish you a wonderful and disaster-free Christmas, Chanukah and New Year. Have a great time, and stay safe.