Protect your home and valuables this Christmas
As the old song goes, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” Indeed, the upcoming festive period is one of the most magical times of year in Hong Kong. The usual frenetic pace of work slows down, shopping malls and offices are decked out in marvellous decorations, and everyone looks forward to some festive fun. Families will gather for special meals and, of course, presents will be shared amongst friends, colleagues and loved ones.
Yet while Christmas is undoubtedly a source of great joy and happiness for most people, it is not without its risks. For example, Christmas is also one of the worst times of year for burglaries due to the preponderance of gift giving. Also, those decorations we love so much can become hazards if not properly installed or maintained.
With this in mind, we prepared some tips to staying safe this Christmas, so that you and your family can enjoy yourselves without incident.
Preparation is key
Your home contains valuables throughout the year but, at Christmas, you will probably have even more, either as gifts you have received or will bestow. This is why many homes are targeted by thieves during the festive celebrations.
One handy tip is to keep valuable items such as watches, gadgets and Christmas gifts away from your windows – especially if you are leaving the property vacant for most of the time. Expensive gadgets, such as smartphones, laptops or tablets, should be removed to a secure room – preferably a room that no-one can see into from the street! If possible, items of jewellery should be locked away in a safe.
Another potential hazard comes from Christmas tree lights. Many people like to leave them on when they go out. There are good reasons for this. Not only is it very welcoming to come back to a home illuminated by magical festive lights, but it could also deter potential burglars who will assume the owners are at home. However, it is absolutely critical that you test the functionality of your Christmas tree lights before switching them on and going out. If your lights develop a fault, and you aren’t at home when it happens, it could lead to a fire which will probably have catastrophic consequences for your property.
If the worst should happen…
If the worst should happen and your home is burgled or damaged by faulty decorations, then you should follow these steps:
- Report the incident to the police
- Promptly contact your insurance advisor/company. Remember, many insurance companies have a time limit on how long you can wait to file a claim, so do it quickly
- Document any property damage with photographs and videos and prepare a list of stolen items
- Keep hold of damaged items as evidence of the burglary. Don’t be tempted to throw them away or start repair work on damage related to the burglary or fire without consent from your insurance company
- Obtain at least two quotations if you need to carry out repair or replacement work
At MSIG, we realise that any burglary or damage is a traumatic experience, which is why we have developed EASY Claims. The process is simple, quick and straightforward, and in just three steps you can file a claim online – anytime, anywhere.
After receiving the claim application, we will remotely assess the damage using TrueSight Interactive Video Call to process your claim as quickly as possible. This can also avoid physical visits to your home from our claims specialists and loss adjusters especially during the pandemic period.
Find out more about our home insurance plans iHome Insurance and Home Protector 2.0 by clicking the links, or call us. From everyone at MSIG, we wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
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Learn more about EASY Claims and file your claims online anytime, anywhere.
