It’s almost summer time, and that means VACATION! There’s always a ton to do before you leave town, but the most important task on your to-do list is protecting your home against theft and crime. Here are ten tips for keeping your home safe while you are away.
1. Have Someone House Sit: Your home is the most safe when someone is there, so try to recruit a close friend or family member to stay in your home while you are away. As an added bonus, you will have someone present to water plants, take care of a pet, and pick up the newspaper. If no one you know is up for the task, consider a professional house sitting service.
2. Hold Your Mail: Stopping your mail is a great idea for safety purposes and convenience. A free service from the United States Postal Service, you can stop your mail anywhere from 3-30 days. Simply go online or visit your local post office to stop service.
3. Stop Your Newspaper Delivery: There’s no more obvious sign of an empty home than a bunch of newspapers scattered across your driveway. This is an easy one to forget, but an important detail to remember. Make sure to cancel your newspaper service before heading out of town.
4. Have Someone Check In: You remembered to hold the mail and stop newspaper service, but what about those pesky fliers that solicitors leave on your door step or that package you forgot was being delivered? Ask a neighbor to check on your property every few days to make sure the coast is clear of any signs of an empty home.
5. Set Your Lights on Timers: By keeping lights on, you create the illusion that someone is home. Set timers for both interior and exterior lights and avoid using extra energy by keeping the lights on the entire time you are away.
6. Keep Up the Landscaping: If you meticulously care for your yard every week, a neglected, un-kept lawn is an obvious sign that you are away. If you are gone longer than a week, you should invest in having a landscaper tend to the lawn.
7. Lock Up: This is the obvious thing to do, but you can never be too careful! Double check every point of entry including windows and doors. Also be sure to lock any doors that have deadbolts for extra security.
8. Keep Your Plans as Quiet as Possible: You are excited about your vacation, but you need to fight the temptation to air your plans on social media or to people that you barely know. If you can, try to keep the kids from talking about it as well. This sounds a little harsh, but you never know who could end up with that information.
9. Disconnect the Electronics: Make sure to pull the plug on electronics such as the TV, coffee maker, and computer. Again, this will save you money on wasteful energy and eliminate worry that something was left on. You could also shut off your garage so it cannot be opened with a universal remote. And lastly, if you’ve parked at the airport, do not leave the GPS in your car. This provides a road map straight to your home!
10. Install Security Features: One of the most important things you can do to protect your home is to have professionally installed security features. The additional security will work whether you are home or away and prevent crime before it happens. Consider installing the latest security equipment, 4k or UHD Security Camera System.
Do you have other tips for keeping your home safe while on vacation?
