Going on a vacation is one of the most exciting things that you will look forward to every year.
But even though a vacation is all about relaxation and enjoying yourself, it requires quite a bit of preparation. Otherwise, the holiday that is supposed to be relaxing can end up quite stressful because of poor logistic management.
When it comes to preparing for a vacation, what people think of would be packing their things and preparing their itinerary. However, there is also one thing that people need to remember when they are preparing for a vacation, more so if it’s overseas.
And that is to keep your house safe while you and your family are away.
If you don’t prep your home for when you are away, then you might come back from your vacation to something entirely different.
If you want to have a worry-free vacation, then you can follow these eight simple tips that will keep your home safe even while you are away.
1. INVEST IN HOME MONITORING
If you don’t have one yet, then you need to start having a home security system that you can access from anywhere.
A home monitoring system is helpful for a lot of avid travelers who worry about their homes while they’re away. Although it’s pricey to set up, it’s worth the money to ensure that your home is safe and that there are security measures in place.
If you’ve got the money for one, then consider getting one already.
There are many options available in the market. You can ask security experts for their recommendations on which security features are best for your home.
Since you’re going to be away from the house, you would probably want access to your security feed anytime. Thus, you should look for a home monitoring system that you can access through your phone.
2. INSTALL MOTION DETECTOR LIGHTS
You might want to set up automatic lights that turn on and off at set times or at random times during the day.
These automatic lights will make your home appear lived in because the lights turn on and off at the appropriate time. Nonetheless, it would be ideal to set your system at random times, as patterns can still make your home susceptible to burglary.
You can also set up and install motion detector lights. If your home is dark for a while, it can serve as a camouflage for people trying to sneak into your home undetected. Motion detector lights will startle any thieves who manage to sneak into your home.
3. MAKE SURE TO LOCK UP ENTRY POINTS
Run through your home and identify any key entry points around the house. Make a list of all these entry points, from your doors to your windows. And then, before you leave, make sure that you locked these entry points.
Although this should be a no-brainer, sometimes, people can forget to do it before they leave their house.
Leaving a window open or a backdoor unlocked means leaving your home vulnerable to burglary. Be more responsible and make sure that you keep these entry points locked away, even if they aren’t prominent places for people to enter.
Before you leave, make sure that you don’t have any doors with broken locks in them. While you’re still at home, this is the best time to replace these broken locks.
The peace of mind that you get from knowing that your home is all locked up is going to help make your vacation a lot more enjoyable.
4. REMOVE YOUR SPARE KEYS
Some people leave spare keys somewhere outside of their house in case they forget their keys inside. This idea has probably helped others in some way, but this technique has always been a risk.
If the spare keys go into the hands of the wrong person, you might come back to an empty house.
If you’re going overseas or on a trip somewhere, then it’s even worse to leave these spare keys lying around the exterior of your house. Instead of leaving spare keys in your home, leave it with a person that you trust.
That way, if you do lose your keys somehow, you can call them up instead of having to leave spare keys for anyone to find.
No matter how clever you might think you’ve hidden your keys, it’s still better not to leave a puzzle for thieves to solve in the first place.
5. KEEP VALUABLES IN A SAFE
If you’re leaving behind any valuables, then make sure that they are inside a secure safe. Don’t make your PIN easy to solve, either. None of the 1234 and 1111 kind.
In case there’s a break-in, you want to ensure that your valuables are inaccessible to the hoodlums in your home. Thus, keeping a safe box is the most excellent way you can do that.
Instead of a safe, if you want to be extra safe (get it?). You can also opt to rent out a self-storage unit for a short while.
Put your safe in there instead, as well as other bigger valuables that won’t fit the safe. A self-storage unit facility has security measures already in place and has people monitoring it as well.
6. HOLD MAIL AND NEWSPAPER DELIVERY
One of the essential travel tips that you should do to help make your travel more carefree is to hold your mail and newspaper delivery.
According to Maid Sailors Cleaning Service Chicago, the mounting heap of unread mail and newspaper is a sign for ne’er-do-wells.
Contact your local post office and tell them to hold any mail and deliveries to your home since you’re going to be away for travel.
7. UNPLUG ALL ELECTRONICS
Before you leave, make sure that you unplug all of the appliances in your house to be safe. If you’re going to be away for more than two weeks, then you should also unplug your refrigerator.
Of course, you should get rid of the food items in your fridge, in your pantry, and anywhere in your kitchen. That way, you don’t come back to a bunch of pests living in your home.
8. AVOID POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA
It’s common to snap a photo of a beautiful scene during your vacation and then share it on social media.
However, you should avoid doing that. Instead, we advise that you post about your vacation once you’re back home.
Burglars usually monitor people’s social media feed to see whether they are on vacation or not. And posting about your trip in real-time can place your home security at risk.
CONCLUSION
Keeping your home safe while you’re on vacation and far away can be challenging. However, doing the right preparations beforehand can help add that layer of protection that will comfort you while you’re away.
