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Holiday villas in Portugal are often left unoccupied for long periods of time, which means that they are at risk for burglary, storm, and flooding damage. If you have insurance on your holiday villas in Portugal, this does not cover you if you have not properly maintained the property.

However, if you take care of your villas in Portugal properly, you will be able to reduce the likelihood of having to claim on your insurance and decrease the risk of damage to your home.

Here are some tips for maintaining villas in Portugal and preventing insurance claims:

Avoiding Storm and Wind Damage

Strong winds from the ocean, rain and storms can cause damage, especially to villas in Portugal on the coast. Make sure that you check your chimneys and roof tiles are all secure so that you do not suffer water damage to your roof. Keep your trees well pruned so that they will not fall on your house, and store away all of your garden furniture.

Blocked Gutters and Drains

If your gutters or drains are blocked by fallen leaves and other debris, they can overflow and cause your roof to become flooded. You can purchase special leaf guards for your gutters to help prevent this from happening.

Accidents to Guests

If you are renting out villas in Portugal to paying guests as short term accommodation, it is even more important to make sure that your property is well maintained. If a guest slips and falls and injures themselves as a result of your negligence, they would have the right to sue you for compensation. Make sure that your driveways and pathways are well lit, balcony railings are safe and sturdy, and make any necessary repairs to the property.

Electricity Surges and Power Failures

Villas in Portugal which are out in remote and rural areas are more likely to experience power failure or electric surges. This could fry your television, computer, modem, or telephone. Make sure that you unplug all of your electrical devices before you leave your property for any period of time, or invest in some surge protectors that you can plug them in to.

Avoiding Theft

There are many ways that you can avoid burglars taking advantage of your absence and breaking into your holiday home. Make sure that you fit quality locks on all external doors and accessible windows. You might also want to install an alarm, which will deter thieves from choosing to rob your home. Some alarm systems will also allow you to set your internal lights on timers so that it looks like someone is living in the property.

 Fireplace Maintenance

If your holiday home in Portugal has a fireplace, you should ensure that the chimney is covered so that rain cannot enter the house. You should also have the chimney swept at least once per year, because this decreases the risk of chimney fires.

These are just a few ways that you can make sure your villas in Portugal are well maintained!

Author Bio

By following these tips you can ensure that your villas in Portugal are well maintained and avoid having to claim on your home insurance.