Use Home Insurance This Christmas To Thwart Burglars

Boost Content Coverage To Include Christmas Presents

By Meha Ahmad, InsuranceAgents.com Staff Writer

When it comes to burglars and Christmas, it's like a kid in a candy store. The holiday season sees a sharp increase of home robberies-mostly from Grinch-burglars who are trying to steal expensive and new Christmas presents. Instead of waking up on Christmas morning to find hundreds, maybe even thousands, of dollars worth of presents missing and allowing the defeat to soak in, there are a few things you can do. 

First, homeowners can increase their home insurance coverage, even if it's just for the holiday season. Compare free home insurance quotes to find a low rate. InsuranceAgents.com makes it easy to find local insurance agents in your area, just use our quick agent finder.

Right now your home insurance probably covers the contents in your home when you first bought the policy. But with all of those new Christmas presents in your house-some of them probably rather valuable or pricey-and the potential for them to be taken by burglars, you should boost your home insurance to include the new items.

The other thing homeowners can do is to the security measures around your property is a good idea. It not only thwarts criminals, but it also helps to reduce your home insurance bill. Home insurance providers like the lower risk that comes with clients who actively try to protect their property.

Home Insurance Tips: Save Money And Your Property

Here are just a few tips homeowners can use to put a stop to holiday home burglaries, increased home insurance claims, and find home insurance discounts:

1. Invest in a quality security system. And be sure to let your agent know about it-it will get you a significant home insurance discount.



2. Motion sensitive lights will also reduce home insurance costs. If a burglar lurks around your home, the exposing lights will turn on and force them to retreat.
3. Dead bolt locks will earn you a 5 percent home insurance discount, and they are very affordable.
4. Keep property well lit. A lit property is like a burglar's kryptonite.
5. Guard those Christmas presents! This is the loot the burglars are coming for. And they'll look in the most likely place: under the Christmas tree. Instead, keep presents locked away until it's time to exchange gifts.
6. When disposing of empty boxes, practice discretion. If a burglar sees an empty box for a new Blu-Ray player or the latest iPod Touch in your trash, they may be tempted to make a late-night visit.

Before the holiday season is upon us, contact your local home insurance agent and review in detail your home insurance policy. Evaluate the coverage your provider gave you regarding home content theft, and up to what dollar amount will they reimburse you. Remember, your home insurance may just cover the possessions you had when you bought the policy. Odds are you have a lot more stuff-valuable stuff-now, and Christmas presents just added to it. Be sure to include these new items on your home insurance. Don't forget to practice safety and security so that those lovely presents don't end up in the hands of "uninvited guests!"

Published: Thursday 3rd December 2009