The clocks have gone back and the evenings are darker but that’s just the start of the bad news. According to figures from GoCompare, burglaries increase by 8% in November.

Here, GoCompare’s Ben Wilson offers tips on how to keep your home safe and, should the worst happen, how to ensure a successful home insurance claim.

Five ways to protect your home

1. Keep it out of sight

Burglars tend to be opportunists so ensuring that expensive gadgets like laptops, tablets and smartphones are out of plain sight and away from windows will make them think twice before entering your home.

Gadgets and other valuables aren’t the only things that thieves could be interested in, so keep any sensitive documents locked in a drawer or consider investing in a shredder as thieves could use this information to steal your identity.

2. Lock up your tools

As well as being valuable, tools and ladders can be used to force entry into your home, the sound of which can be easily missed when accompanied by the sound of fireworks. Any unsecured tools or ladders that are used to gain entry to your home may also invalidate your insurance. Ensure your shed or garage is securely locked to avoid giving burglars an easy way in.

3. Never leave a spare key

Stashing a spare key under the doormat may seem like a good idea, but thieves know exactly where to look. Spending a few moments snooping for a spare key is preferable to forcing their way into your home as this may draw attention.

4. Leave a light on

If you’re out for the evening, consider drawing the curtains and leaving a light on. Giving the illusion that someone’s home will go a long way to deterring a burglar. If you’re away for an extended period, consider using light timers and ask a family member or friend to pop in to open your curtains and collect your post now and again.

5. Don’t share holiday plans on social media

Posting about your holiday on social media could be seen by an insurer as having advertised the fact that your home will be unoccupied for an extended period of time and this may result in your claim being rejected.

Four tips to ensure a successful home insurance claim

1. Know your cover levels

Knowing your policy’s cover levels and exclusions could play a major role in whether your claim is accepted or rejected. It’s easy to underestimate the value of your home and its contents, and as such, you could find that you are underinsured should you need to make a claim

2. Take ‘reasonable care’

Insurers expect policyholders to take ‘reasonable care’ of their home and belongings. For example, a burglary as a result of an unlocked door or open window will more than likely result in your claim being rejected as you would be deemed to have not taken reasonable care in ensuring your property is secure.

Similarly, if you’ve told your insurer that your house is fitted with an alarm – and the alarm wasn’t in use when the burglary took place – your insurer may declare your cover invalid.

3. Act quickly and follow procedure

If your home has been burgled the first thing you should do is call the police. The police will investigate the incident and give you a crime reference number which you will need to pass on to your insurer.

Should your home need repairs, some insurers insist on using approved repairers while others may require you to get quotes from a number of tradespeople.

Checking your home buildings and contents insurance policy and familiarising yourself with your provider’s procedures will help to make the claims process as smooth as possible.

4. Honesty is the best policy

Should you need to claim on your buildings or contents insurance it’s important that you don’t exaggerate the value of the claim. If your insurer finds that you have been dishonest they are entitled to decline your entire claim.