Home Safety Tips and Insurance in San Marcos

May 21, 2025

Enjoy Your Summer Getaway with Peace of Mind: Home Safety Tips and Insurance in San Marcos

By San Marcos Insurance Agency


Summer in San Marcos often means vacations, travel, and enjoying time away from home. While you're making memories, it's essential to take steps to ensure your home remains safe and secure. At San Marcos Insurance Agency, we want to help you protect your property while you're away and understand the relevant insurance considerations for extended absences.


Keeping Your San Marcos Home Safe While You're Away

Before you head out on your summer adventures, consider these home safety tips:

  • Secure Your Home: Lock all doors and windows. Consider reinforcing entry points with deadbolt locks.
  • Use Timers for Lights: Set indoor and outdoor lights on timers to create the illusion that someone is home.
  • Stop Mail and Deliveries: Arrange to have your mail and newspaper deliveries stopped to prevent them from piling up.
  • Inform a Trusted Neighbor: Let a neighbor know you'll be away and ask them to keep an eye on your property. Exchange contact information.
  • Don't Broadcast Your Absence on Social Media: Wait until you return to share your vacation photos to avoid alerting potential burglars.
  • Unplug Non-Essential Electronics: This can help save energy and reduce the risk of electrical fires.
  • Adjust Your Thermostat: Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature to conserve energy and prevent extreme heat buildup.
  • Secure Valuables: Store valuable items in a safe or secure location.


Insurance Considerations for Extended Absences

While your homeowners insurance policy generally covers your property even when you're away, there are some important considerations for extended absences:

  • Vacancy Clauses: Some insurance policies have clauses that may limit coverage if your home is vacant for an extended period (often 30-60 days). Check your policy or talk to your agent about any vacancy limitations.
  • Maintenance Responsibilities: Even while you're away, you're still responsible for maintaining your property. If damage occurs due to neglect (e.g., a burst pipe that wasn't addressed before you left), your claim might be denied.
  • Emergency Contacts: Ensure your insurance company and a trusted neighbor or friend have your up-to-date contact information in case of an emergency.


San Marcos Insurance Agency: Protecting Your Home, Near or Far

At San Marcos Insurance Agency, we want you to enjoy your summer travels with the peace of mind that your home is protected. Before you leave for an extended period, we recommend:

  • Reviewing your homeowners insurance policy to understand any limitations related to vacancy.
  • Discussing your travel plans with your agent to ensure you have adequate coverage.
  • Making necessary arrangements for home security and maintenance while you're away.


Have a Safe and Fun Summer!

By taking proactive steps to secure your home and understanding your insurance coverage, you can relax and enjoy your summer adventures. Contact San Marcos Insurance Agency if you have any questions about your homeowners insurance before you travel.


San Marcos Insurance Agency – Your Partner in Home Security and Peace of Mind.

Rolling green pasture with a white barn, fence, and grazing horses; the bright sun is low in the sky.
December 31, 2025
Welcome to Hays County! 5 Insurance Surprises for New Texas Residents
Hand holding house keys near a staircase.
December 24, 2025
Renting to Bobcats? The Landlord's Guide to San Marcos Rental Property Insurance
Three brindle and white puppies in a brown basket on grass.
December 17, 2025
Paws & Policies: A San Marcos Pet Owner's Guide to Insurance
White house with red trim, small porch, picket fence, fall leaves.
December 10, 2025
How to Right-Size Your Insurance When You Downsize Your Home
Boat dashboard with wooden steering wheel, seat, and water in background.
December 3, 2025
Living in Central Texas isn't just about the great communities and proximity to Austin and San Antonio. For many of us, it's about the weekends. It’s about getting out and enjoying the incredible landscape that surrounds us. It's about launching the boat at Canyon Lake, taking a scenic motorcycle ride through the twists and turns of the Hill Country, or parking the RV for a long weekend getaway. Your "toys" are your ticket to freedom, but they also represent a significant investment and a major liability. A common and costly mistake is assuming your auto or home insurance policy automatically covers them. It doesn't. At San Marcos Insurance Agency, we help our clients protect their fun. Here’s what you need to know about insuring your recreational vehicles. 1. Boats on Canyon Lake & The Guadalupe Here’s the hard truth: Your homeowners insurance provides little to no meaningful coverage for your boat. It might cover a small canoe or kayak for liability on your property, but the moment you put a motor on it or take it to a lake, you're exposed. A dedicated boat policy is essential and covers: • Physical Damage: Protects the boat, motor, and trailer from theft, fire, or damage, whether it's on the water or in your driveway. • Liability: This is critical. It covers you if you cause an accident that injures another boater or damages their property (docks, other boats). • On-Water Towing: If you're stranded in the middle of Canyon Lake with a dead engine, this coverage is a lifesaver, paying for the tow back to the marina. • Wreckage Removal: If your boat sinks, you are legally responsible for the cost of removing it. This coverage handles that expense. 2. Motorcycle Rides in the Hill Country A motorcycle isn't just a smaller car; it carries entirely different risks. The winding roads around Wimberley and Dripping Springs are beautiful but demand respect. Standard auto insurance isn't enough. A motorcycle policy needs to include: • Guest Passenger Liability: Does your policy cover a passenger riding with you? Many don't unless you specifically add it. • Custom Parts & Equipment (CPE): You've spent money on custom pipes, a new seat, and chrome. Your basic policy won't cover those upgrades unless you add CPE coverage. • Higher Medical Payments: With a higher risk of injury, increasing your own medical payments coverage is a smart move. 3. RVs & Travel Trailers: A Vehicle or a Home? The answer is: it's both. And it needs to be insured that way. Your auto policy only provides basic liability when the trailer is hitched to your truck, and your home policy doesn't cover it at all. You need a dedicated RV or travel trailer policy, which combines the best of auto and home insurance: • Total Loss Replacement: If your new RV is totaled, this can help you get a brand new, comparable model, not just the depreciated cash value. • Vacation Liability: Covers you for injuries or property damage that happen at your campsite—for instance, if a guest trips over your awning. • Personal Effects: Covers all the stuff you keep inside your camper (grills, TVs, clothes, camping gear) that aren't part of the vehicle itself. • Full-Timer's Liability: If you live in your RV for months at a time, this provides broader liability protection that acts more like a homeowners policy. 4. The Bundle is Your Best Friend Here's the good news. Insuring your "toys" doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Most carriers we work with offer significant discounts for "bundling." When you insure your boat, motorcycle, or RV with the same company that writes your home and auto policies, you not only simplify your life with one agent and one bill, but you can also unlock multi-policy discounts that save you serious money. Get Your Fun Covered Before you hook up the trailer or roll out the bike for your next adventure, let's talk. A quick 15-minute call with us can ensure your weekend fun is properly protected. Contact San Marcos Insurance Agency today for a free, no-obligation quote on your recreational vehicles.
Dark bar interior with illuminated shelves and counter; golden lighting.
November 26, 2025
Serving The Square: The Must-Have Insurance for San Marcos Restaurant & Bar Owners
Snowy scene of an old wooden building with an illuminated orange lantern. Snow on roof, windows visible.
November 19, 2025
Is Your Hays County Home Really Prepared for the Next Big Storm?
Couple holding
November 7, 2025
Your First-Time Buyer's Insurance Guide
Cat grooming a golden dog lying in green grass.
October 29, 2025
We love our pets in San Marcos! 🐾 But have you thought about their insurance needs?
Group of young adults looking at laptops in a home, discussing something on screen.
October 22, 2025
Find out why your renters insurance needs an upgrade for your new young professional lifestyle