December sees many homeowners go on holiday trips, but there are potential risks to their properties as they are unoccupied for extensive periods. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unforeseen property damage from burst geysers, power surges, or theft is possible during the festive season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is unfortunate that this time of the year tends to expose homeowners to opportunistic break-ins and, in some instances, delays on the reporting of incidents to the police and insurers\u201d, said the South African Insurance Association’s (SAIA’s) Themba Palagangwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thus, the SAIA said that consumers should take reasonable measures to protect their properties from unforeseen events during the festive season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This includes doing necessary maintenance checks on the property items, such as the geysers and electrical works and increasing security measures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SAIA gave the following tips for keeping a property safe during the holiday season: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consumers are also warned that certain behaviors may increase the risk to their properties, such as social pots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo further protect your property, it is also of importance to ensure that you have adequate non-life insurance cover and that your policy is up to date to ensure that you are sufficiently covered,\u201d added Palagangwe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It also recommended that those going on holiday contact their insurer to confirm any insurance policy limitations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n