Tips to Protect Your Home While on Vacation

Have you ever left for a trip and then suddenly become overrun with the anxiety that you may have forgotten to lock a door or window before you left? So much so that even though you’ve already been on the road for an hour or are about to board your plane, you almost want to turn right around and run back to be sure. It’s a terrible feeling when you’re unsure if your home is safely locked and secure while you’re gone, but here are a few steps to take before you step out the door to help ease those worries.

• Security System 

  If you are someone who happens to have a security system, notify the company that you will be away. Whether it’s just a weekend getaway or an extended vacation, it’s smart to inform the company and have peace of mind that they’re looking out for you.

• Lock it up 

   Sometimes the easiest solution is the most forgotten one. Be sure to lock ALL your doors, windows, and garages. Some homeowners love their neighbourhood so much that they’d never expect anyone to break in, leaving their home unlocked all day, every day. However, you can’t think like that. Anything can happen when you’re away and intruders will stop at nothing to break in and take everything they can.

Be sure each of your locks is properly working and, as you walk around the perimeter of the house, to lock each and every entrance. This way as you’re on the road travelling, you’ll remember that you locked that back kitchen door before you left.

• Hide the goods 

   Anything of great value to you, whether material or emotional, put away in a secure place within your home. Be sure that nothing can be seen from your windows. Put all valuables in a hidden safe or even a secret storage place that an intruder would never find.

• Housesitter

  Ask a neighbour, friend, or family member if they may be able to stay at your house while away. Even if they can’t stay all night, ask if they can visit frequently to take in the mail and park a car in your driveway, giving the presence of someone being home.

• Outside spare keys 

   We all know about the spare key hidden under the doormat. How? Because literally, everyone does it. Or even that plastic rock out in the flower bed that has a ‘secret’ compartment for your spare key. Just do yourself a favour and don’t leave any spare keys outside. Burglars know all the tricks. If someone is watching your house while away, be sure to leave the key with them or even a neighbour.

• Don’t advertise 

   So you’re all excited about getting away on that dream vacation you’ve been looking forward to all year long. So much so that you want everyone to know about it. So where do you tell them? Probably on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. But you might want to watch what you say. If someone, even a stranger on the internet, can find out you’re away, then your house is an easy target. Also think twice when using the “checking in” function on Facebook or Foursquare. Then they’ll definitely know you’re nowhere near home.