When you head off for vacation, the last thing you want to think about is your home. You simply want to relax and enjoy your time away. Nonetheless, your home is still there and still prone to problems. A water line could break and flood your home, a fire could break out, or a criminal could target your home for all your treasured belongings. Here are some precautions your should take to ensure that your home stays safe and sound while you are away.
Talk To Your Friends And Neighbors
Asking a friend or neighbor check on your home on a daily basis is a great way to start. While there, they can bring in the mail and take care of any pets or plants you may have. Be sure that your caretaker has a key to your house as well as to your car, in case it needs to be moved. Let other neighbors know that you will be gone and that you have someone coming in to take care of your home to avoid a helpful neighbor calling the police on your caretaker.
Having a caretaker provides activity at your home so that it isn’t completely vacant all day, every day that you are gone. Varying the times they stop by will also make it harder for a criminal to rob the home. The caretaker will also become aware of problems within 24 hours if something were to break or be stolen.
Lock Up Tight
This may seem obvious, but you need to lock everything. For your garage, unplug the power to the automatic garage door. This prevents someone with from opening your door with a universal remote. If your garage door runs on a track, fastening something into the track like a clamp or lock will keep the door from rolling. Then be sure to lock the door from the garage to the house.
If you have a sliding glass door, place a piece of wood in the track to keep anyone from forcing the door open. If you have doors with glass panels, make sure they are locked with deadbolts that can only be opened with a key. Criminals look for an easy entrance into a home. The harder you make it for a thief to enter, the more likely they will be to go to a different house.
Remove Your Spare Key
You may think you have a great place for your spare key, but in all likelihood, your spare key is not hidden well enough to deter a criminal. Criminals know to look under the mat, in the mailbox, above the door, or in the fake rock. Instead, leave a spare key with your neighbor so they can check on your home while you are gone.
Leave Your Curtains Open
Although this may seem counter-intuitive, you should leave your curtains open. If your curtains are closed, your neighbors cannot see inside, so anyone can be doing anything in your home without their knowledge. Additionally, most people do not live in their homes with the curtains drawn all day and night. If a criminal is watching your home, they will notice the closed curtains and realize that no one is at home.
If you are one of the few that do not leave your curtains open, then don’t start when you are on vacation. The best bet is to leave your window treatments the same way you do when you are home. If you have valuables, like a computer or home theater system, consider moving them so that they are not visible from the open window. There is no need to tempt someone with your valuables.
Lights: On Or Off?
Many people leave their lights on when they are gone from the home because they want to make it look like someone is at home. The problem is that the light never changes. That single lamp in the living room staying lit 24 hours a day is a sure sign that no one is home.
Instead of leaving on a few random lights, buy a light switch timer that can turn lights on and off according to a schedule. Turning lights on around the house at dusk and leaving them on until your normal bedtime will make it look like someone is inside your house.
Stop Your Mail And Newspaper
A week’s worth of newspapers and mail is a sure sign that no one is home. When it comes to your mail and newspaper, you have two choices. Either have your caretaker pick them up and take them into the house each day or have them stopped while you are away. It is easy to put your mail on hold and you can do this online at USPS.com. Even if you do place your mail and paper on hold, have your caretaker check for both just in case the delivery people got it wrong.
Continue Snow Removal, Lawn Mowing, And Leaf Raking
If you typically mow your yard every week, letting it go without mowing for over a week will make it obvious that you are not home. The same is true for snow that goes unshoveled or leaves that go unraked. You need to arrange for yard work to be accomplished while you are gone. Consider having a neighbor take care of your yard or hire someone reputable to do so while you are gone.
Inform The Police
Letting your local police know that you will be gone is also a good idea. Many police departments will add your home to their car route so they can periodically check on your home. Also, let the police know who has a key to your home, and if you have a security system, give them the code.
Speaking of security system, also alert your alarm company that you will be going away. Let them know who has your passcode. Don’t forget to set your alarm before you leave.
Use The Internet Sparingly
We put our lives out on social media so that everyone can know what we are up to. The problem is that you don’t know who is reading your posts or tweets. Even if you have your sites well-guarded, strangers could be lurking. So, announcing that you are headed off to the Caribbean for a week from is like taking out an advertisement in the paper to let people know that your home will be vacant.
While on vacation, refrain from posting photos, especially those with a time, date, and place stamp. It is tempting to let everyone know how much fun you are having, but waiting until you get home is safer for your house. Also, don’t leave a message on your answering machine that indicates you are away for vacation. The best thing is to leave your message exactly like it is while you are home.
Beware Of Frozen Pipes
This is not something to worry about if you live in a warm climate or are going away in the summer, but if you live with freezing temperatures and are traveling in the winter, frozen pipes can be a real problem.
The best way to keep your pipes from freezing is to leave the heat on in the house while you are away to at least 55 degrees. Also, make sure any outside pipes are properly insulated. Finally, you can even leave your faucets dripping if you are concerned about freezing. Be sure that your caretaker knows where the water main shut-off is just in case a pipe breaks. Also ask your caretaker to turn on the water every day to be sure that they have a steady flow of water. If the water only trickles, there is a good chance that the pipes are frozen and the water main should be turned off.
Unplug Your Technology
Power surges happen during storms and sometimes when electricity is shut off unexpectedly. When a power surge occurs, items plugged into the wall can be damaged or completely destroyed. Many people have their electronics plugged into a certified surge protector power strip. However, when you leave for vacation, an extra measure of protection would be to unplug those items completely. Consider unplugging the computer, TV, stereo, home theater, and kitchen appliances.
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