Tips to Protect Your Home

You can not thoroughly enjoy a summer vacation with your family if you are constantly worried about your home and belongings you left behind. Follow these tips to keep your home more secure while you are away, giving you the peace of mind you need to have a relaxing vacation:

Eliminate hiding places

Well before your planned vacation, trim all shrubs and trees that are near your house or garage. You don’t want to provide a hiding place for thieves. If your neighbors are watching your house for you, they need to have an unobstructed view of your windows and doors. Get rid of extra boxes, children’s toys or firewood piles that may be cluttering the outside of your home.

Home security system

Having a home security system installed is an excellent way to protect your home and family throughout the year, not just when you’re on vacation. Security cameras, monitors and alarms can insure the safety of your family and the security of your possessions. You will be alerted right away if a door or window opens when you set the alarm, and authorities will be at your house quickly if it is not turned off.

Newspapers and mail

You could have a neighbor pick up your newspaper and mail, but that somewhat advertises to anyone watching that you aren’t home. It’s best to stop deliveries until you return. This also ensures that your mail doesn’t get misplaces or your newspapers aren’t left in the rain.

House sitters

An ideal way to protect your home while you are on vacation is to hire a house sitter. Be sure it’s someone you know and trust or someone who is bonded with excellent references that you can check out. House sitters can care for your pets, keep your plants watered and handle various other duties. This gives the appearance that someone is home and living there, and also ensures that the little things are taken care of around the home.

Lighting

With the use of timers, you can have lights turn on and off in various rooms of your home so that it looks like someone is inside. You can also set this up with your TV to give the home the natural flicker you see in windows during the evening hours. Your exterior space should be illuminated throughout the year as well. This is a safety feature for you when you’re at home and when you’re away from home. Motion sensor lights can send an intruder running.

Locks

Be sure all exterior door locks and window locks are functioning properly, and replace any that aren’t. You might want to add dead bolt locks to your exterior doors before you go on vacation.

Implement as many security measures as possible before leaving on vacation. Once you’ve done that, it will be easier for you to relax and enjoy your summer vacation.

Informational credit to www.bluetreesecurity.com. 

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