For many of your clients, summertime means getting away for amuch-desired vacation.

It may also mean traveling to a second home or leaving awinter home and returning to a primaryresidence. Whatever the scenario, summer can be like the movie“Home Alone” with a twist — instead of your clients, it's actuallythe house that will be left alone.

Insurance advisors can serve clients well by identifying some ofthe risks to unoccupied homes and pointing out steps necessary tomitigate them.

Burglary, of course, is the biggest risk, and modern home security systems provideunparalleled safety and peace of mind. Still, no matter howsophisticated the security system, clients still have a criticalrole in making sure their home and its contents remain safe.

Summertime security do's and don'ts

Here are some important summertime security do's and don'ts thatmay be worth reviewing with clients:

Don't broadcast your whereabouts. Remindclients not to reveal their plans or itineraries on social mediaand not to provide running online commentary of their travelactivities. To be sure, your clients’ best friends are not the onesto worry about, but criminals lurk online and are all too eager toburgle a home when they know its residents are away.

In the same vein, remind clients to warn their children not toshare vacation or travel plans with friends. One last old-fashionedbit of advice — don't leave voice messages on home or cell phonesthat say when you’ll be away.

Related: 25 ways to keep your auto and home safe fromthieves this summer

Make a home look occupied. Since looks can bedeceiving, clients should be reminded to make their home appear asif they are in it. Here's a checklist:

• If a car or cars are normally left outside, have someoneperiodically drive them or park them a bit differently.

• If there's a swimming pool, keep the water in itcirculating.

• Make sure that lawn mowing and watering continue asscheduled.

• Put a hold on mail and newspaper deliveries.

• Use timers on exterior lights to go on and off at the usualtimes.

Secure the home and its contents. Securitysystems can only do so much; clients should take a few extra safetyprecautions when they plan to be away:

• Add security lights with motion sensors to scare off potentialburglars.

• Close all window latches and put a secondary blocking devicesuch as a wooden dowel in place to ensure windows cannot beopened.

• Let the security company know when the home will be vacant.

-- Disconnect the garage door opener and lock it manually toprotect it from criminals who can crack the electronic code.

--Move fine jewelry to a safe or bank safety deposit box.

-- Don't leave house keys in an obvious place inside or outsidethe home.

--Lower the volume or shut off the ringer on telephones so theycan't be heard outside.

-- Make sure fine art, expensive electronics and other valuablesaren't visible through windows.

• Put fresh batteries in smoke detectors so they remain operableand don't beep while homeowners are away.

• Use a deadbolt to secure doors.

Related: 12 home theft prevention tips for travelinghomeowners

Minimize the potential for damage. When yourclients are away, problems that ordinarily can be easily averted orremedied are liable to spiral into calamities. Some steps clientscan take to avert potential disasters include:

• Shutting off water lines.

• Making sure a sump pump in the basement is working properly.

• Making sure washing machines, dryers and dishwashers are turnedoff.

• Unplugging small appliances and electronics to prevent damagefrom a power surge.

Since a watchful pair of eyes is often the best defense, remindclients to ask a trusted neighbor to look in on things while theyare away, and to have the neighbor alert your clients — and thepolice — if there is anything suspicious. A house-sittingarrangement may be worth considering for a particularly longabsence.

Related: Summer travels of the wealthy: Protect themwhere'er they roam

Fran O'Brien is Senior VicePresident, Chubb Group and Division President, North AmericaPersonal Risk Services. She has executive operating responsibilityfor the personal lines property and casualty insurance businessthat serves affluent and high net worth clients in the U.S. andCanada. he can be reached at [email protected].