Ensure your home is protected this bank holiday

The August bank holiday is fast approaching and many Brits will be using the opportunity to go away for a long weekend.

But, before you head off, make sure you do all you can to protect your home against any uninvited visitors. Follow these simple tips from Tescocompare.com to help protect your home when you're away.

It sounds simple, but make sure you thoroughly lock all external doors and windows before you go away.

Don't advertise the fact that you are away - try not to leave curtains and shutters closed during daytime; it draws attention to the fact that no one is at home.

Activate your burglar alarm if you have one or consider fitting one - they often prove to be an effective deterrent when it comes to burglaries. Don't forget to service your alarm regularly to ensure it is working properly.

Consider using time-operated lights or even switch the TV or radio on via a timed clock, to make your house look and sound as if people are at home.

Don't leave anything of value in sight from the outside; an expensive TV, stereo, laptop or DVD collection could entice burglars to target your property.

Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on the property and leave them a key so they can clear your mailbox and open curtains and windows on a regular basis. Make sure your neighbours have contact details should they need to get hold of you in an emergency.

Fit motion sensor lights to the outside of your property. They can often be a good measure to deter potential burglars.

Think about valuables outside your home - expensive garden furniture, gardening equipment and bikes are often easily accessible for thieves. Make sure they are all kept out of sight and are locked away securely.

Carefully disguise the fact you are away by asking a neighbour to occasionally park their car on your driveway, cut the grass and even have your wheelie bin put out and returned.

Make sure you have the right home insurance cover in place. Review the details on your insurance policy to check you are covered for all your contents both in and outside the home, and any unfortunate eventualities. If you are leaving your home unattended for longer periods of time, make sure you're not in breach of your policy's details.

Debra Williams from Tescocompare.com commented: "Whether going away on a day trip, for a long weekend, or for longer periods of time, avoiding any tell tale signs of your absence is essential and following these simple tips should help to keep any unwanted visitors at bay. In addition, make sure you regularly review your home contents policy to ensure you have the right level of cover for all your belongings, both in and outside the home, and check that you understand all the small print on your policy. If you're not sure about the level of cover you have in place, put a call in to your insurer to discuss it, and make sure you take a copy of your insurance documents with you to help should the worst happen."

To shop around for competitive home insurance visit tescocompare.com