If you’ve just bought a holiday home or weekend property, you need to make sure it is just as well-secured as your primary residence – and properly insured, says Harcourts Africa chief executive, Martin Schultheiss.

“Security awareness tends to slip when we’re on holiday, relaxing and taking a break from our everyday stresses, but the unfortunate truth is that criminals don’t relax, and are always on the lookout for easy pickings,” he says.

“In addition, any pattern of only occasional occupation of a property, during school holidays, say, or only at weekends, will be quickly recognised by potential intruders. And the likelihood of the property being burgled or vandalised is even greater if it is a freehold house in a holiday spot where many of the surrounding houses are also unoccupied for much of the time.

“Even worse, if you haven’t taken adequate steps to secure your holiday home, you may find that your insurers won’t pay out in the event of a claim.”

Security experts suggest that such steps should include the following:

Make sure there are no gaps in the fence or other easy points of access to the grounds;

Hire a garden service, if necessary, to ensure the lawns and gardens are kept tidy and don’t become overgrown;

Remove the postbox so junk mail cannot build up in your absence, and redirect any real correspondence to do with your holiday home to your permanent address;

Fit strong burglar bars and door locks. Outside locks should be a minimum of four lever locks or double cylinder security locks, and

Install an external and internal electronic surveillance system linked to an alarm and the operations room of a security company that will respond promptly to any attempted break-in, or that you trust to gain access to the property and reset the system in the event of a false alarm.

Such measures, Schultheiss says, will also help to keep your insurance premiums down.

“These are likely to be slightly higher than those for your own home, but for your peace of mind you really do need holiday home insurance, for the building and the contents,” he says.

“The building insurance must cover the home and any outbuildings against the effects of perils such as fire, storm, flood and subsidence, and the contents policy should include all furniture, appliances, garden, braai and sports equipment left behind at the end of each holiday. Also very important is that your insurer will provide proper cover for the clothing and valuables you and any guests will bring with you when you are in residence.”