Keeping Your Home Safe While on Vacation
Now that the warm weather is upon us and school’s out, vacations have begun. Make sure to keep your house safe while you are away by remembering the tips below!
Lighting the house
Lighting the house is a great way to deter intruders, although lights on 24/7 can be costly and draw attention that no one is home. An easy way to decrease your bill and deter intruders is to add some timers to some lamps in the house. Timers can be purchased at most hardware stores for under $20 and allow you to have your lights on a staggered schedule.
Social media
Social media is a great way to tell your friends about your vacation, but who else is watching? While we love telling our family and friends up-to-the-minute updates, it may be wise to wait until you return from vacation to post your pictures and tales of your vacation.
Lend a space
Offer your driveway to a neighbor. It’s great overflow space for extra cars and it will bring activity to your driveway.
Stop the mail
Notify the post office to stop your mail or ask a neighbor or a friend to pick it up for you. Don’t forget to ask them to pick up the paper deliveries too.
Remove the spare key
The fake rock your spare key is hiding is not fooling anyone. This is also the case for under the pot plant, above the door jam and under the mat. Don’t forget to remove the emergency key before you leave.
Remove temptation
Valuable items such as TVs, cameras, tablets are attractive items for intruders. Remember to leave these out of sight before you leave.
Leaving your car at home?
Remember to remove the garage door opener from your car. This gives an easy access to your house drawing minimal attention.
Is your insurance taking a holiday too?
In most insurance policies certain items may not be covered after 4 days and the policy may be voided after 30 days. If you are away for more than 4 days ensure you take the necessary steps to ensure that your house remains insured while you are away. It may be as easy as having a friend or family member check in on the house.
