Going on vacation is always a fun time to get in some good family bonding time. But it can also be nerve wracking trying to get everything ready and make sure everything at home is secured and safe in your absence. There are a few things you can do to make sure everything is safe while you’re away to help put you at ease while on vacation. Here are a few tips to securing your home while on vacation.
Hire a house or pet sitter
If you’re planning on being away for a week or more, the best option may be to hire a house or pet sitter. If you’ve got pets at home, then it’d definitely be best to hire a pet sitter so they remain comfortable in their own home and you’ll save some money as opposed to boarding them. If you don’t have pets, you could still hire a friend to stay at your house during the week or at least stop by each day to water the plants and pick up the newspapers so that it looks like someone is actively going to the house to deter burglars.
Stop mail and newspapers
While your mailbox may not be obvious to burglars, a pile of yellowed newspapers on your doorstep or in your driveway is a sure sign of an empty house. Stop your newspaper delivery to ensure that you don’t unknowingly attract possible burglars. You can also stop your mail through the postal service from three to 30 days.
Make it look lived in
A great way to deter burglars and ensure that everything looks as though it is status quo, is to make it look like someone is currently living in. Invest in some timers to put on your lights so that they turn on for a few hours each night and then turn off. Ask a neighbor to please bring your trash cans to the curb on trash day and then return them so it looks like someone is in the house. If you forget to stop your newspaper service, have a neighbor or a friend stop by and pick up your newspaper for you so they don’t gather on the porch.
Unplug electronics
Unplug electronics that you know won’t make a difference while you’re away. Unplugging things like the coffee pot, TV, computer, etc. will not only save you money on your power bill, but it will also help to ease your worry that you may have accidentally left them on. If there is something that you’re worried may cause a fire, unplug it and ease the worry right away.
Lock it up
It may seem like a no brainer, but it is crucial that you lock everything up when you leave. Make sure every window is locked, every door is locked, and if you put sticks in your back door or your window wells, make sure those are down as well. If your house is locked, thieves will be less likely to break in. You can also turn off your garage door and lock it manually to make sure that thieves can’t open it with a universal remote.