Holiday Home Safety Tips For Property And Guests

Do you own a holiday rental property that you rent to guests who are on holiday, or even where you can escape to for a long weekend? While this may be an excellent investment, what happens when you’re not there? Like any home, holiday homes are vulnerable to flooding, water leaks, break-ins, and weather damage because they are frequently empty and not necessarily well maintained.

Luckily, you can take steps to reduce these risks and make sure that your holiday home remains in good condition. Below are eight home safety tips to protect the property and guests in your holiday home.

Best Ways to Protect Your Holiday Home Property

It might be challenging to enhance the safety of a holiday home as numerous types of hazards exist, including theft, unwanted visitors, and property damage. Fortunately, taking a few easy steps can significantly reduce the risks. Below, we will outline the various safety tips for property and guests:

4 Safety Tips for Property

There are numerous ways of protecting the property in your period home. Below are four of them:

1). Install A Security System

It is easy to keep an eye on your property if you install a security system. Various smart home apps can help you monitor your holiday home 24/7. You should install surveillance equipment with motion sensors to stream live video to your tablet, phone, home or office computer, or another device.

A sound security system should alert you when something isn’t operating correctly. Security cameras frequently prevent thefts before they occur. If cameras are outside, many people who want to break in won’t even bother, so act as a great deterrent.

2). Secure The Doors and Windows

Even though breaking in is the most common method of burglary in Australia, many thieves can easily walk, climb, or crawl into homes. Verify the locks on every window, especially those on the ground floor. You can use pins or nails to prevent the windows from opening further than a few inches. Additionally, ensure all exterior doors have deadbolts and lock any basement or back doors.

3). Ensure the Property Has Insurance

You can have peace of mind knowing you won’t lose money if your rental property is damaged or items are stolen with the help of short-term rental holiday insurance. Landlord insurance for homes typically covers short-term rentals of up to 12 weeks.

4). Ensure Regular Maintenance

Schedule routine maintenance inspections to enhance your holiday safety. Verify the condition of the roof, gutters, drains, and intruder alarms, the security of any electrical or gas appliances, and the functionality of the heating and water systems. The property could become damaged if you don’t maintain it, and your insurance company might not cover the cost of repairing or replacing it.

4 Safety Tips for Guests

You can easily protect the guests in your holiday home using the following four tips. Read on for more information.

1). Install Home Automation

Guests frequently forget to turn off the lights when leaving. In such cases, automated light systems can prevent the unnecessary wastage of power. You can also consider installing automatic lights that turn on when someone enters any room so the guests won’t have to get up in the middle of the night looking for the light switch.

2). Fix Or Replace The HVAC System

If your HVAC system is more than ten years old, you should consider replacing it. The most recent systems use less energy, which not only improves comfort but also lowers energy costs. Also, provide the contact information of a handyman or caretaker who can make any necessary adjustments to the various components of the HVAC system.

3). Provide a First Aid Kit

Ascertain that you have at least one first aid kit that is fully stocked and that your visitors are aware of its location. Put two or more kits in various rooms of your sizeable rental home. You should restock the kit after each reservation.

4). Install Smoke Detectors

Install smoke alarms in your holiday home’s kitchen, floor, and bedroom. Smoke detectors are still a good idea even if your home was built before 1991 because the building code does not mandate that each bedroom have one. Ensure your guest book contains instructions on deactivating a smoke alarm if it is accidentally triggered. Each smoke detector is unique, and it can be challenging for someone who doesn’t understand how they operate to turn one off.

Final Thoughts

It can be challenging to keep your holiday home secure. Holiday homes are, by nature, vacant for extended periods, which exposes them to risks. However, do not wait until a crime or accident occurs before you consider protecting your holiday home.

Don’t delay taking action or you may end up regretting this down the track. Follow the above procedures to ensure a safe home for both the property and guests.

List Your Holiday Home on BNB Booking!

At BNB Booking, we’d be happy to give you an honest, professional assessment of your property, whether you’re new to holiday accommodation or already have one that you think isn’t doing well. Our full-service offering gives holiday homeowners a worry-free, comprehensive property and guest management solution.

Our property and housekeeping managers will ensure that any breakages, damage, or maintenance issues are handled promptly and effectively through routine inspections and thorough checks before and after each guest’s stay. This allows visitors to unwind and take advantage of all your home offers. 

Please call us at BNB Booking today on 1300 421 029 or leave an enquiry and we will get back to you as soon as possible.