Has your summer been full of vacations and weekend getaways?  Have you been sharing your adventures with friends and family on social media?  Sharing too much on social media could leave you open to burglary and a possible loss of insurance coverage.

When your posts tell “most everyone” your location and dates for when you’re away, it might be easy to forget the real-life risks that sharing too much can create, and worse, insurers may view this as ‘reckless’, which could potentially invalidate your coverage.

Most insurance policies state that you must take ‘reasonable care’ in securing your home and its possessions, which includes being discreet about any vacations.  When you make your whereabouts public to everyone, the implication is that you’re not being careful enough in protecting your home.

Some insurers are even looking into social media activity when it comes to claiming on your home insurance policy.

And those who check-in on Facebook to reveal where they are at the moment may also be refused a payout from their insurer.

What’s more, your policy may be void after a burglary if it becomes apparent you’ve broken the terms and conditions of your policy.

While it’s great to get in touch with your friends and family, be careful about what you share online as you never know who may see your activity.

Here are some tips to keep your information safe online:

1. Think seriously about who can read your posts, and secure your profile by checking privacy settings.
2. Most smartphones now come with GPS trackers – so if your location is automatically switched on, this could make you an easy target.
3. Think before you share – do you really need to make your address or date of birth public? You can easily edit your profile if you want to restrict your personal information online.
4. If you’re unsure what information is out there, just Google yourself and you’ll be able to see what others can see about you.

And while you are away, be sure your home is secure.  Preventing burglary starts with the basics. When you leave your home, make a final check of all the doors and windows to ensure they are shut and locked.

It won’t take more than a few minutes, but it will be the best protection for your home, and you’ll also have more peace of mind when you go away because you know that you locked up.

There are many other things you can do to keep your home safe while you are away, but it starts with thinking smart.  Thieves are always thinking and trying to outsmart you, so always try and put steps ahead of the game.

The Certo Team
55 N. Arizona Place Suite #103
Chandler, AZ 85225
602-429-6789