When planning your summer vacation in Des Moines, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of planning activities, accommodations, and itineraries. With the ease of keeping everyone updated via social media, as well as gathering information and asking opinions, don’t lose sight of the big picture. It is important to keep your home safe while on summer vacation in Des Moines, as well as having fun on your journey. By using the following tips, you can enjoy peace of mind, knowing that proper steps were taken to ensure the safety of your home as you head out on your summer vacation.
Outward appearance
While your house may be empty inside, it does not necessarily have to look empty from the outside. Program a few interior lights to come on using a timer, and to go off around the times that they usually would when you are home. If you are going to be gone a considerable amount of time, arrange to have the lawn mowed and the plants watered, should the need arise. The more normal things appear on the outside of your home, the better.
Be socially smart
The advancement of social media has given friends – and sometimes others, a view into our private lives. While you may be greatly excited about your upcoming trip and freely sharing information about the details, this may not be such a smart move. It is safer to keep details to yourself to prevent the wrong eyes from reading between the lines that you will be away on a certain date, or are posting photos from a location far from home. If you do take photos that you would like to share, try to hold off on posting anything until after you are home. When asking opinions or getting recommendations, do not mention specific dates that you will be away from your home.
Conserve resources
Unplug devices that you will not need to let running while you are away. Items such as the coffee maker, television, and computer will still use power while plugged in. If you are gone, there is not much to gain by leaving them connected. It is also not a bad idea to unplug items such as garage door openers, making them impossible to open with a universal remote.
Post mail is still something to contend with while you are away on vacation. It can quickly pile up in a mailbox, indicating a vacant home. You can contact the post office and have them stop mail delivery for a specified amount of time, or have a friend, neighbor, or relative stop to pick it up once per day.
Hire a resident
Perhaps the best solution to maintaining a safe home while on vacation is to hire a relative or friend to stay in your home. This covers multiple issues including mail, pets, plant watering, lights, and overall home occupancy signs.
While you are enjoying your summer vacation in Des Moines, odds are that everything at home is fine. However, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to maintaining home safety, especially while you are away. By following the tips above and using some common sense, you can kick back and relax, knowing your home is safe while on summer vacation in Des Moines.