Warning for holidaymakers: why your Facebook posts could void your home insurance

Brisbane woman Chloe Portman, 38, learned the hard way that burglars do not take holidays.

After marrying on the Gold Coast in May 2010 she stayed on for a few days before returning home to Brisbane - only to find her parents' house had been burgled.

"They had pried the roller door and entered the property that way," she said.

The family had put pictures on Facebook and also her father had done a congratulations message in the newspaper, she said.

"It put a real dampener on things."

High monetary items such as laptops, jewellery and passports, were taken.

She said she's learnt the hard way how "vigilant" you have to be about what you post on social media.

"People who are bad are always going to be bad," she said. "And unfortunately they are very good at what they do."

New research from home and contents comparison service iSelect has found that oversharing on social media could do more than attract likes - it could attract burglars and even jeopardise insurance claims.

The survey of more than 1000 Australians found one in three (33 per cent) admit to leaving windows open while no one is home, while one in four (25 per cent) leave doors unlocked.

Around 12 per cent keep a spare key hidden under a doormat or in another predictable spot - a convenience for neighbours, but an open invitation for thieves.

Alarmingly, 12 per cent also admit to sharing their travel plans publicly on social media.

"Sharing that your home will be unoccupied could be considered a failure to take reasonable care, and in some cases, may affect a claim," he said.

"Home and contents insurance is essential protection against unexpected events like break-ins - but it only works if you take steps to safeguard your property.

"Simple measures such as locking doors and windows, activating security systems and limiting social media posts about your absence can help reduce your risk."