You’ve packed sunblock, an extra phone charger and three novels for a well-deserved vacation, but is your home prepared for your excursion? Before your departure, take a few precautions to protect your home from burglars and other unpleasant incidents. You don’t want to worry about home safety when you are supposed to be relaxing and having fun.
The most important thing is to make your house look lived in while you are away. An empty house is an invitation for burglars. Here are some actions you can take to best protect your home:
Maintain a sense of normalcy by setting some indoor lights on a timer to come on at night for a few hours, ask a neighbor to park in your driveway, and don’t close the blinds or drapes in every room if they are usually open.
Put a hold on newspaper and mail delivery. If it’s summer, have someone mow the lawn. In the winter, have the driveway plowed if it snows and the walkway shoveled.
Be careful what you post on social media. Try to resist “checking in” on Facebook, as this alerts people that your home is empty. For the same reason, while it’s tempting to post vacation photos as they happen, it’s better to wait until you are home.
Don’t leave jewelry, extra cash and other valuable items in plain sight. Put them in your safe or a safety deposit box at the bank. If you hide a spare key outside, bring it inside.
Your neighbors can be your best allies. Tell them you will be away, and ask them to keep an eye on your home. Give them your contact information in case of an emergency. Likewise, if you have a security system, notify the company that you will be away, especially when on extended trips.
