National Association of Home Inventory Professionals Offers Tips for Theft Free Holidays

Simple tips and home inventory documentation helps prevent property loss

Hebron, CT (PRWEB) November 14, 2009

Although we'd like to believe the holidays bring out peace on earth and good will, often times the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day are a prime season for criminals. Consider the following safety tips during this busy time of year to help prevent becoming a victim of theft:

Holiday Shopping:

• Keep a record of all of credit card numbers in a safe place at home, should a wallet get lost or stolen, the cards can quickly be cancelled.
• Beware of approaching strangers. Especially during this time of year, thieves may try various methods to distract a person with the intention of taking money or belongings.
• Don't park in areas that are not very well lit at night. If a person has any doubts about their safety a security escort should be requested.
• Put shopping bags in the car trunk and don't try to cover items on car seats with a blanket or jacket. If possible, take packages home immediately after a shopping spree.
• Be extra careful when carrying a purse, they are the prime targets of criminals in crowded shopping areas. If it is necessary to carry a purse, ensure that it has a strap which goes over the shoulder and can be held under the arm, making it more difficult for someone to grab.
• Don't carry a large amount of cash, it is much safer to use a debit or credit card for holiday purchases.

• Leave a light on when leaving home at night or put lights (including Christmas or holiday lights) on an automatic timer.
• When leaving home for an extended time, ask a neighbor or family member to keep watch and pick up newspapers and mail.
• Cover first floor windows with shades or curtains. A burglar is very unlikely to break into a house that they can't look into ahead of time.
• Make sure your holiday gifts are not visible through the windows and doors of your home.
• Never say you are away from home on an answering machine or voice mail, just say that you are unable to answer the phone at this time.
• Complete a comprehensive home inventory. The documentation from a home inventory can be in an invaluable tool to provide information to the police and your insurance company to maximize and simplify a claim. It will also reduce the stress that can come with trying to remember the many items contained within a home.

During the holidays, many people can become careless and vulnerable to theft and other crimes. Protecting yourself and your home from potential crime is the best way to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.

The National Association of Home Inventory Professionals can help homeowners quickly complete a comprehensive home inventory. Homeowners can easily search the online member directory available on the NAHIP website at http://www.NAHIP.com to find a qualified service provider. Most homeowners simply don’t have the time or patience to conduct a home inventory on their own which makes using a service provider a great option to get this tedious task accomplished. Individuals who want to perform an inventory on their own can use a popular and inexpensive software product such as The Complete Home Journal which greatly simplifies the task and creates the necessary documentation. Visit the Complete Home Journal product website at: http://www.thehomejournal.com for further details.

NAHIP encourages those interested in the documentation services profession to get involved. It is an exciting industry with tremendous growth potential which needs additional service professionals to meet the growing demand. The home inventory services profession offers great pay, flexible hours and the ability to work from a home office. NAHIP recommends the leading home inventory business startup kit, Home Journal Business for those interested in starting their own business either part of full time. The home inventory business startup kit includes a full set of materials to easily start a new business and includes the leading home inventory business software. Please visit the home inventory business startup kit website at: http://www.HomeJournalBusiness.com for complete details.

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