Storms, Security & Savings: Your Essential Gold Coast Summer Protection Checklist

Summer on the Gold Coast is a time for enjoying the outdoors, celebrating with family, and enjoying our incredible lifestyle. But it also brings with it two distinct challenges for homeowners: wild weather and the increased risk of break-ins over the holiday period.

Getting your home ready now is the key to a truly stress-free summer. Here's your essential checklist to protect your biggest asset—both physically and financially.

1. Physical Protection: Prepare for Storm Season

Our summer storms can be intense. Taking a few simple steps now can prevent thousands of dollars in damage later.

• Clean Your Gutters and Drains: This is the number one thing you can do. Blocked gutters are a leading cause of water damage and ceiling leaks during a downpour.
• Trim Overhanging Branches: Cut back any large branches that are too close to your roof or windows to prevent them from causing damage in high winds.
• Check Your Roof and Seals: Do a quick visual inspection for any loose tiles or cracked seals around windows and skylights.
• Secure Loose Items: Make sure outdoor furniture, trampolines, and BBQs are properly secured or can be moved undercover easily.

2. Security Protection: Safeguard Your Home for the Holidays

Whether you're away for a week or just out for the day, it pays to make your home less of a target.

• Check Your Locks: Ensure all locks on doors and windows are secure and functioning correctly.
• Improve Lighting: Install sensor lights at the front and back of your property. A well-lit home is a great deterrent.
• Don't Advertise Your Absence: Be cautious about posting your holiday plans on social media until you return. Ask a trusted neighbour to collect your mail and bring in your bins.
• Make it Look Lived-In: Use simple timers for a few lamps to create the impression that someone is home in the evenings.

3. Financial Protection: The Most Important Check of All

Protecting your home is about more than just physical security; your financial health is paramount.

• Review Your Home & Contents Insurance: Is your policy up to date? Crucially, does it provide adequate cover for flood and storm damage? The time to check the fine print is now, not after an event.
• Review Your Mortgage: Your home loan is your biggest financial commitment. Are you sure you still have a competitive interest rate? A quick mortgage review could save you hundreds of dollars every month—money that could go towards a better insurance policy, home maintenance, or your own holiday fund.
• Set Up a Financial Buffer: Let's check if your loan has features like a 100% offset account. This is the perfect place to build an emergency fund for unexpected repairs, giving you ultimate peace of mind.

Protecting your Gold Coast home is about being prepared. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure you and your family have a safe, secure, and relaxing summer.

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