Prevention
10 checks to secure your home before a holiday
Before leaving Annecy, a systematic review of access points is better than a hurried final check. This list helps prepare locks, keys, and your absence plan.
KEY POINTS
Test accesses several days before departure. A faulty lock is easier to address when there is still time to identify the room and plan the intervention.
The week before departure
1. Test the main door. The key must turn smoothly with no abnormal resistance and the bolts must engage correctly. Have a lock that sticks inspected.
2. Check windows and patio doors. Check handles, strikes and adjustments. Identify any doors or windows that no longer lock fully.
3. Inspect the garage and outbuildings. Remember the gate and the door between the garage and the home, which are easily missed during a final check.
4. Prepare the alarm, if you have one. Check the batteries, notifications, and contacts designed to respond. A test must follow the system's instructions.
Arrange access while you are away
5. Grant access to a trusted individual. Avoid keeping keys under a pot or in an obvious hiding place. Explain how to use the lock and any essential procedures.
6. Arrange for your post to be collected. A box that's overflowing draws attention to a prolonged absence. Arrange a check-in according to your situation.
7. Keep your travel dates private. Only share travel plans with the people who need them, and avoid posting your absence publicly in real time.
8. Consider the French police’s “Opération tranquillité vacances” holiday home-check scheme. This absence monitoring service is arranged in cooperation with the police or gendarmerie, depending on the commune. It supplements your precautions without guaranteeing the absence of incidents.
On the day of departure
9. Make a final check that everything is locked. Check all entry points, secondary access points, and intended equipment. A window left in ventilation position is not fully closed.
10. Keep essential contacts and documents on file. Keep the contact details of the assistance, a copy of the equipment references, and the means to contact a trusted person. Store sensitive documents in an appropriate manner.
Customise the list to your property
A detached house, an apartment, and a second home have different access points. Start with easily accessible points and observed anomalies, without attempting to add multiple accessories.
If a lock presents an issue, describe it to MULTISECU before departure. A simple adjustment or replacement of a component may be sufficient to restore reliable operation.
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