How To Protect Your Home While On Vacation
Going on vacation can be the best part of the year. It’s a time for rest away from work and outside the familiarity of your hometown. Making sure your house is secure while you’re away on a trip is one of the first things homeowners consider when scheduling plans or securing friends and family to look after their property.
Table of Contents
- Don’t post online that you’ll be gone
- Secure your valuables
- Check your doors and windows
- Install security cameras & alarms
- Install outdoor lighting
- Unplug appliances that aren’t in use
Protecting Your Home While on Vacation
While some people are comfortable leaving their home alone or with a house sitter, you might be looking for various ways to ensure your house is protected while offering you peace of mind that your belongings will be safe and secure.
Lock up your valuables, secure your home before that much-needed beach trip and ensure that you’ll enjoy your vacation without the added stress of at-home burglary. Here are a few ways you can protect your home while on vacation:
1. Don’t Post Online That You Will Be Gone
While you may want to keep close friends and curious family members updated with your vacation hot spots and fun getaways, posting that you’re away from home may make your house a target for burglary. Try to save your posts and pictures for when you return. If you can’t resist the urge to share your experience on social media, make sure you only share your posts to close, trusted friends to see.
Take inventory of your social media information. If anything lists your home address or phone number, it might be best to take this off so if someone online does catch wind of your trip, they won’t be able to find where you live.
2. Secure Your Valuables
Keep items like money, jewelry or electronics in a safe or drop box while you are away from home. If a break-in occurs, your belongings are more likely to remain safe and hidden from sight. If your home has recently undergone renovations or you used tools or ladders around the house, lock them in a garage or shed to prevent burglars from finding them. Burglars could use items like ladders, hammers or screwdrivers to enter the home.
Don’t let mail pile up at the door. Even if you plan to have packages delivered to your house, unopened mail is a sure sign to others that the home is vacant. Have your mail office hold your mail until you return from vacation. Most offices will store your packages and letters for up to 30 days, which should be enough time to cover your trip.
3. Check the Doors and Windows
Ensure every door and window in your home is securely locked before leaving. Consider installing a smart lock on your door, which will let you remotely enable friends or family to enter the house without leaving a key under a mat or in the mailbox. Give any spare keys to a trusted neighbor or family member, and don’t leave them lying around in a pot or underneath items near the door. Check that each window closes completely and replace any torn screens. Keep the area outside the window clutter-free to deter entry.
If you have an automated garage door, turn off the power and make sure the door is completely locked. Secure any outdoor sheds with valuable equipment as well. Make sure to check areas in the home overlooked at first glance. For example, shut or lock any pet doors or mail slots that could make it easier for burglars to reach in with tools and unlock your door.
Vacation-Proofing Your Home
Look outside your home and start thinking about what you need to secure and where you could set up lights to deter theft. Check inside the house and create a list of everything you need to unplug or any systems you need to install. The more prepared you are to secure your home inside and out, the safer your home will be when you leave for vacation. Here are a few steps you can take to vacation-proof your home:
1. Install Security Cameras and Alarms
Installing a security system is one of the best ways to keep your home safe. A smart security system lets you use your phone or mobile device to monitor your home from anywhere. Some systems even offer live video footage of your home so you can watch real-time updates. Make sure you alert your alarm company you’ll be going away for a while so they can be informed should the alarm go off while you’re gone.
A security alarm can alert the neighbors and scare away potential burglars if anyone tries to break into your house. It can also contact the police for you. Advertise your security system with signs and stickers to try and deter burglars from attempting a robbery.
2. Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lights are great for stopping criminals since it gives the appearance that someone is at home. It is also crucial to help you see any motion on your security cameras from burglars that try to break in. You can put outdoor lights on a timer that automatically turns on at night or use motion-sensing lights that turn on when movement is detected. Either option will discourage people from trying to get too close.
3. Unplug Unused Appliances
Appliances like coffee makers, blow dryers or toaster ovens should be unplugged to avoid electrical fires. To protect against power surges, unplug your computer, television, game systems or other electronics. Another option is to set a timer on your electronics and appliances to make your house appear lived in. You can find these timers at most hardware or appliance stores.
Test your fire alarm before leaving to ensure it will notify you or your neighbors in the case of a fire. Shut off your water to protect your pipes from bursting, and consider investing in a smart programmable thermostat that adjusts to your climate. Smart thermostats can be a great way to optimize your home for cost-efficient heating and cooling, keeping the home cool on warmer days to prevent mold or mildew, or warming the house during cold days to avoid frozen pipes.
Secure Your Home for Vacation With Security Monster
Security Monster works with residential and commercial properties to give you peace of mind and state-of-the-art technology. Our security experts are willing to work with you or your business to find the right security package for you. Our offers come with cameras, monitors and alarm systems you can control from one app. Contact Security Monster for customized security solutions to protect your property while on vacation.