The best way to ruin a vacation is to come home to a burglary. Keep your home and outbuildings safe while going on vacation by reading these five essential tips.
Are you planning to be one of the 107.3 million people traveling for the holidays? If so, how long will you be gone?
If you’re only planning to travel for a day or a quick weekend getaway, you already know to lock up your house before you leave. But if you’re going on a vacation and plan to be gone for an extended period, you may want to consider securing your home in better ways.
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you covered with these five essential tips. Check them out below!
- Don’t Post Online
As excited as you may be to be going away for the holidays, avoid posting about your vacation online. While you may trust the friends you have on social media, people online may still see this information – even if your accounts are private and secure.
Avoid advertising what day you’re leaving and how long you’ll be gone. This is vital information a thief can use to their advantage.
- Keep Everything Locked Up
This tip may seem obvious, but we’ll highlight it just in case you forgot. Make sure to lock every door and window leading into your home. Add a dowel or broom handle to the bottom of sliding glass doors as an extra precaution.
Once your home is secure, double check any outdoor buildings you have are locked as well. While you can always invest in a safe to keep your important or expensive items away, an industrial shed is another great option.
Check out these industrial sheds for sale to keep all your heavy-duty equipment and gear locked up tight while you’re gone.
- Check Your Lighting
Doors and windows locked? Check.
Nothing posted online? Double check.
You’re almost ready to head out, so it’s good to check your lighting. You have to find a balance between leaving too many lights on and not enough.
Too little lighting will draw attention since your home will stay dark for an extended period of time. But, too many lights may draw the wrong kind of attention.
Leave a porch light on and one or two inside your home. If you have smart lights installed, set timers for them to come on automatically at night.
If you’ve already put up your outdoor Christmas lights and they’re on an automatic timer, make sure none of the wires are tangled. The last thing you want is an electrical fire to occur while you’re gone.
- Notify a Neighbor
As we mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to keep it on the down-low about your holiday travel plans. But, you do want to let at least one trusted neighbor know. This way they can keep an eye on your home while you’re gone in case anything happens.
If you trust them enough, leave a spare house key with them in case of emergencies. You can ask them to bring in any packages delivered and your mail while you’re gone.
- Set Your Security Alarm Systems
By 2021 only 27% of US households will have security systems, which is why it’s important for you to invest in one now if you don’t already have one. There are plenty of benefits of having a security alarm for your home, one of which allows you to check on things while you’re gone.
While some come with features such as smart locks, cameras, alarms, and lighting control, you really only need something which will protect your home and alert authorities in case of a break-in. Everything else is an added benefit.
Keep Your Home Safe When Going on Vacation
When going on vacation you want you and your family to enjoy the time away to the fullest. To do this, you need to ensure your home is as secure as it can be. By following these five essential tips you’ll have nothing to worry about.
Ready to go on vacation but not sure where to head? Check out our travel section on our blog of ideas, tips, and destinations.
