While planning for your next vacation, it is easy to overlook the critical job of protecting your house while you are gone. Of course, there are times when no amount of planning could have stopped a break-in. But there are many ways to reduce the risk of keeping your home secure while you are gone.
Whether you’re off to the office, on an overseas business trip, or to enjoy the holidays, you want to keep your house away from the wrong hands. By taking a few basic precautions, you can reduce the likelihood of your house becoming the next target of thieves.
Keeping your Home Safe for Travels
Protecting your house is always essential, and there’s no need to take security for granted when you’re gone. With the following strategies at hand, you’ll be able to have peace of mind and enjoy your time even when you’re miles away from home.
Be a Good Neighbor
Asking your neighbor to keep an eye on your property is one of the greatest means of protecting your house. But, this method is only applicable if you’re on good terms with them. So getting to know the people next door and building a good relationship with them are the first things to do.
From there, you can gain the confidence to ask them to check your house while you’re away. They are your primary source of protection, and you can reciprocate this favor when they’re going out, too.
Consider your Friends and Family
If you aren’t comfortable leaving the responsibility to your neighbors, you can also ask friends and relatives to check in on the house while you’re away. You don’t have to ask them to come inside and perform all the house duties; taking a stop by and making sure everything looks normal is enough.
Put Everything Down
Before you go, be sure to lock all the windows and doors, especially the ones leading to the backyard or the driveway. If you’re going to be gone for a long time and have an open area, there are metal fence panels for sale that you can use for additional security. This aluminum fencing will help prevent criminals from breaking in.
Activate Security Camera
If you have a surveillance system, make sure to turn it on whenever you leave your home. You can also inform your security provider of the days you intend to be away. Many security devices have motion-detection features that notify the homeowners, especially when suspicious activities are found. Some also have a quick dial capability that calls the nearby police when alarm systems are triggered.
So, if you still don’t have any of these security systems installed at your house, it’s time to think about having one.
Avoid Posting Online
You should also be mindful when it comes to social media throughout your travels. Vacation photos are exactly what the bad guys are waiting for before they attack your house. Posting that you’re out in real-time can serve as a validation that you’re not at home.
To avoid being a victim of these tactics, you can try to develop a habit of posting later on. You can save your photos on your phone and wait until you get home before sharing them on your social media accounts. If that’s not possible, you can always keep your account private to ensure that no one you don’t know will see your activities.
Hold Deliveries
A pile of newspaper or mail on your front porch is a dead giveaway to burglars that no one is at home. So, it is best to put these deliveries on hold, especially if you’ll not be around for a while. You can also arrange for a neighbor or a friend to pick it up while you’re away.
Go Smart
A dark home at nighttime for days in a row is a big clue that somebody is on vacation. But, it’s also not wise to keep the lights turned on as you leave your home. A wise step to go around this dilemma is to turn to smart technology.
Today, many devices in the market offer an innovative way to control your home. Most people think of adding variety and placing these timers on gadgets such as lamps, TVs, and radios. Doing so will create an illusion of what a typical house is like during the night. This way, people will think that someone is in residence.
Wrapping Up
It is always wise to include home security as a part of your vacation checklist. By following the tips above, you’re on your way towards an enjoyable and stress-free trip to your dream destination.
