Going on vacation or travelling for business? Regardless of your reasons for leaving your house, consider taking precautionary measures to secure your home. Simply locking the doors won’t do the trick when your house is unoccupied for weeks or even months. We have listed some successful tips to deter burglars from entering your home.
This tip is simple but easily forgotten. Mow the lawn before you leave so that it doesn’t look like a meadow by the time you get back. You can also ask your neighbor to water your pot plants, so they won’t appear wilted and indicate an absent owner. It will surely keep your plants healthy too!
Unless your neighbor doesn’t mind clearing your mailbox from newspapers, brochures and other post or waiting for your parcels all day, it’s best to cancel your regular deliveries or to postpone them until you’re back. Simply contact your local post office and you’re ready to leave.
Keeping good locks on your windows and (garage) doors is one of the most important tips when it comes to the burglary prevention. As you install locks, consider a cylinder lock. Every cylinder is a combination of body, studs, bullets and feathers that accurately fits together and takes care of a safe lockdown.
Want to go a little bit further? You might want to invest in a more advanced home security system that will give you the best sense of security.
Learn more about how you can replace a cylinder lock yourself >>
From your dishwasher and television to your oven and computer. Turn off your electrical appliances and/or check the wiring and the components before you leave. Especially if you have experienced electrical issues in your house in the past. This is less important for keeping the burglars away, but it surely protects your house from fires or power surges. Besides, unplugging your electrical appliances will help you save power, as many appliances consume energy even when they’re not turned on.
Bolster exterior lighting all around your house by installing a light on a timer switch that automatically comes on to a programmed schedule or in the evening. You can also get photosensitive bulbs that switch on when a certain level of darkness is reached.
But don’t leave your lights on throughout your entire vacation or work assignment. It will look suspicious and your electricity bill might be a big bummer when you return.
Extra tip: If you are using light on a timer, don’t use it with a table lamp that can be viewed through a window. In most cases, that’s a dead giveaway.
Don’t leave valuable items in places, where they can be seen through a window. Rather choose to hide them in several non-obvious places that are difficult to reach.
A simple way to gain peace of mind, is to ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your house by driving (or walking) to your home once a day and check the place. Instead of leaving the keys in obvious places, give this person a spare key so he or she can water your plants as stated in tip 1, bring your mail in as stated in tip 2, feed your cat or open and close the curtains once in a while.
If you don’t have a garage and your car is parked outside, you may also want to give this person a key to your car. Who knows, maybe your vehicle needs to be moved. He or she should also have your contact information and a copy of your itinerary in case of emergencies.
Extra tip: if more than one person is taking care of your home while you’re away, tell them about each other. Especially if the neighbor is asked to keep an eye as well. If he calls the police on your house-sitter, don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Last but not least, make sure to check your household insurance. Does it cover everything you need? Does it remain valid while you’re away or when you let a house-sitter come in once in a while? That way, you’re definitely ensured of a carefree vacation.
