How Can I Best Secure My Home While Away on Vacation?

It’s frightening to know that a thief has entered your home or damage or occurred to your home while you were away. Criminals target the easiest home to break into. Other mishaps can also occur when you are on vacation such as a fire or water loss.

Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take to secure your home and property if you want or need to get away for an extended period. Some of the things you can do pertain to the inside of your house, and some relate to the exterior.

Things You Can Do Inside the House to Secure It

1.       Add timers to your lights. Thieves will think someone is home and will likely move on to another house.
2.       Prevent damage due to power surges. Disconnect your televisions, computers, stereo systems, and other electronics. If you go away a lot, a whole house surge protector could be a valuable investment.
3.       Avoid announcing your trip on social media platforms. Never put your location on your social media pages, as it’s a red flag telling thieves you are far from home. Even if you limit who can see your social media activity, hackers may still be able to access it.
4.       Advise your home security company. Give your security company the dates you will be away from your home. Be sure the alarm is set before you go and monitor it remotely if possible.
5.       Lock up your valuables. Arrange for a safety deposit box if you don’t have a locked safe in your home. Don’t leave anything valuable in plain sight.
6.       Adjust your thermostat. Set your thermostat to lower your air conditioning or heat and be sure the thermostat has a fresh battery.
7.       Lock doors and windows. Lock your garage door too and double-check them before you leave.

Things You Can Do Outside the House to Secure It

1.       Ask someone to check your house daily. Ask them to pick up your mail and check for water leaks or other problems.
2.       Add exterior lights to the outside of your home. They will deter burglars.
3.       Hire a lawn care service. A well-kept lawn signals to would-be thieves that someone is at your home regularly.
4.       Remove spare keys from around the house. Don’t leave them under the mat, inside doors, or in key receptacles hidden around the house. Burglars will be looking for them.

With these tips, you should be able to enjoy your vacation without worrying about coming home to an unfortunate incident that requires a claim on your home insurance policy.