This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most– but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day. All opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Whenever I’m traveling, I jump at the chance to stay locally or go on a guided tour around town. It’s an amazing opportunity to experience a more intimate side of local life and make connections with local people.

Aside from renting out so many unforgettable homes around the world, I’ve also rented out my own place to other travelers! It’s a great way to cover some travel costs! Been thinking about renting out your home while traveling this winter?

Here are my essential tips for renting out your house during the holidays.

– Safe Home Sharing Tips –

We’ve all heard some horror stories about nightmare guests. Whether it’s throwing crazy parties or setting the kitchen ablaze, you never know what’s going to happen. Even the best-reviewed guests can have accidents, and the last thing you want is to spend your newfound rental cash repairing your place and, unfortunately, typical home insurance policies don’t always provide coverage while renting your home out to others.

Before you travel, I’d highly recommend getting a smart security system in place. Whether you’re across the world or up the block, it’s good to know your home is secure.

There’s so much cool and affordable tech out there that can offer priceless piece of mind.

When you’re renting your place, be sure to lock up essentials to prevent theft and pricey damage. Stick anything expensive or of sentimental value into a locked space. If your guests won’t need it, get it out of their way.

– Get Covered –

I’m super excited to be heading off on a European River Cruise to see the Christmas markets in Austria, Germany, and Budapest this December. And, of course, the last thing I want to do is worry about what’s going on at home.

In my quest for a worry-free trip, I was introduced to HostAdvantage® from Allstate.

If you are considering renting your own place to visitors while renting someone else’s home, consider HostAdvantage^® from Allstate. With Allstate HostAdvantage^®you can be protected against damage caused by temporary renters or theft to your belongings while your home is being rented.

– Other Home Safety Tips –

One of the best ways to prevent issues when you’re away is to thoroughly check out every potential guest. It’s 100% your choice to host someone (or reject them) so never feel obligated. Do some snooping, read their online reviews, and, above all, trust your gut. If something seems off, just say no — it’s not worth the risk.

Renting your place is also a good excuse for doing a safety check. Are all your smoke detectors working? Do you have a fire extinguisher? Are your entryway lights working? Got crazy overloaded outlets? Now is the time to have a walk-through to check every area.

Another thing a lot of people forget about is identity theft. While we think so much about online security, the world of old fashion data theft still exists. If you have important paperwork lying around, you’re opening yourself up to danger. This is especially true if you don’t have a secure mailbox.

While the vast majority of guests would never consider digging through your stuff, it only takes one person to create a major headache. A little bit of planning goes a long way, so look around with a critical eye.