“Happiness has many roots but none more important than security.” Edward Stettinus, American statesman.
Folks relaxing on the beach thousands of kilometres from their isolated farm house might well understand the wisdom in those words.
How many pina coladas does it take to silence the persistent voice in your head that’s suggesting that maybe the homestead isn’t quite as secure as you’d like it to be?
Maybe leaving the old, diamond-tooth harrow upside down in the driveway is just not enough.
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Vandalism and theft in farm homes isn’t a big problem, says Steve Moulding at Insurance Matters in Kelvington, Sask.
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But in the 12 years he has been in the insurance business, he believes it has increased. He wonders if that’s not due at least in part to the prevalence of social media and our tendency to post our location at all times.
“If you were going away for a while, you wouldn’t put a poster downtown announcing that,” he says. “Why would you post it on Facebook?”
Aside from keeping your absence on a need-to-know basis, there are some things you can do to protect your home from not only intruders, but also fire, freezing pipes and rising water.
Cameras with remote internet access and alarms triggered by temperature extremes, rising water and intruders, might be an option. These devices sound an alarm and can call up to three telephone numbers if any of the triggers are activated.
The system can be set up by the home owner, so there are no monitoring fees or installation costs. If you’ve got a phone line and a power outlet you’re good to go.
Wendel Dillert at Home Hardware in Moose Jaw, Sask., says he sells this type of product, but still advises customers to have a real person available to check their home if they’re planning on being away for a while.
Moulding says home insurance rates generally don’t go up for the winter. And, if you are away from the house and have a monitored system in place for fire and intrusion, you are eligible for a discount on insurance.
Some companies would also give you a year-round discount if you have a device in place to detect water issues.
The discount can be as much as 20 percent.
“Out in the country, the discount isn’t as big … but,” he emphasizes, “there is no discount for a self-installed system. The security system must be professionally in-stalled and monitored 24-7.”
Moulding says most insurance companies require homeowners who are away for the winter to meet at least one of three requirements to be eligible for the discount:
- a professionally installed and monitored alarm system that monitors temperature
- a competent person checking house either daily or at reasonable intervals; some companies differ in that aspect
- water shut off and pipes drained, but don’t just think pipes; the icemaker in your refrigerator or your water heater could fail and leak, and shutting off the water eliminates several risk factors
If you’re away during a specified number of days during the regular “heating season,” which snowbirds typically are, there is an exclusion under the homeowner’s policy that would exclude coverage for water damage due to ruptured pipes caused by loss of heat if the dwelling is unoccupied.
“That’s why you must choose one of the three above stipulations in order to have coverage,” Moulding says. “There is no real limit on how long you can be away and still have coverage.”
In an article on the Insurance-Canada website, Bryan Yetman of First Durham Insurance & Financial Ltd. in Pickering, Ont., recommends flushing toilets to leave water in the traps and toilet bowls to prevent sewer gas entering the home and to protect it from freezing with marine antifreeze.
Loss from fire, lightning and explosion will continue to be covered with daily visits but you will be required to report thefts to police.
Since payouts are limited on certain items most often at the top of the wish lists of thieves — jewelry, collectibles and bicycles — it might be wise to either install a monitored security system or store these valuables with family or friends before you fly away.
