Going on vacation is the perfect way to rest, relax, and reset while you create lasting memories.
If you’re planning a long vacation, it’s crucial that you know how to protect the house while you’re away.
Whether you live in a busy suburban neighborhood or a quiet rural area, protecting your home is essential for your security and peace of mind. Read on for a list of 12 ultra-secure ways you can protect your home while you’re away.
1. Consider a CCTV System
If you really want to protect the house while you’re away, a CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) system is a great option. This security system will monitor activity around your home and any footage can be saved for later viewing.
With a CCTV system, you can see what’s happening in real-time, and footage can even be sent directly to your smartphone. This system makes it easy to monitor what’s happening, even when you’re far away.
You’ll want to add high-definition cameras to your CCTV system that can spot activity during the day and night. This makes it much easier to find out if a potential burglar or vandal is creeping around your home when you’re gone.
Since CCTV systems can store footage, you can relay this to the local authorities to help with an investigation. It’s a great option for people who need to see their homes from a distance remotely anywhere and at any time.
2. Set Timers on the Lights
Most criminals won’t bother breaking into a property if they think the homeowner is there. You can easily fool would-be burglars by putting your interior and exterior lights on a timer.
Set up your timer to turn the lights on and off so that it looks like someone is home. You can do the same thing with your porch lights so they turn off when the sun goes up, and turn on again when it goes down.
You can find light timers at most home improvement stores, and they’re easy to set up. They’re also inexpensive which makes them a smart addition to your home security plan.
Make sure the timers are set to turn lights on around sunset and then turn off in the morning or late night hours. This will make most criminals assume that someone is inside the home, which will hopefully deter them from committing a crime on your property.
3. Talk to Your Neighbors
One of the simplest things you can do to protect the house while you’re away is to notify your neighbors that you’re leaving. If you are on good terms with your neighbors, they can look out for your house while you’re away.
A good neighbor will keep a close watch on your home to make sure there’s no strange activity. Ask if they’d be willing to bring your mail and newspaper inside or hold onto it for you until you return.
Any mail that piles up on your porch can be a target for criminals. Stray newspapers in the driveway will also alert people that no one is home.
With help from your neighbors, you’ll feel a lot better knowing that your home is being monitored. They don’t need to babysit your house 24/7, but just knowing that someone is keeping an eye out can do wonders for your peace of mind.
4. Install Door and Window Sensors to Protect the House
Another excellent way to deter problems is to install door and window sensors. These sensors will sound a loud alarm if the door or window is open or broken.
These sensors are small in size and extremely lightweight. They’re also very easy to install and you can easily move them to other locations whenever you need to.
Most intruders will attempt to enter your home from the front or back door, or through the garage. In some cases, they may also try to gain entry by breaking a window. That’s why installing sensors is such an important way to protect the house while you’re gone.
The small sensors don’t require any special tools to install. Due to their size, they’re also easy to conceal so that criminals won’t see them before they attempt to break in through a door or window.
5. Secure Your Stuff
You might think that locking your doors and using alarms is the best way to keep your valuables secure. However, no home is completely burglar-proof if a criminal is really determined to get inside.
To make sure your valuables are fully protected, consider storing them in a durable safe that can be bolted to the floor. Whether it’s paperwork, jewelry, or firearms, a safe can offer you another layer of protection against theft.
You don’t want to come home to find out that precious family heirlooms have been stolen. Use a heavy-duty safe to store your most valuable items so that criminals can’t take them out of your home.
Install your new safe in the back of the home, preferably somewhere hidden like a closet. That way, you’ll know that your most valuable belongings are both hiding from thieves and protected thanks to a well-made safe.
6. Don’t Announce Your Vacation on Social Media
It’s extremely tempting to let everyone know that you’re embarking on an amazing vacation on Twitter or Facebook. Unfortunately, some criminals scope out social media to find out when people won’t be home.
You can prevent theft and break-ins simply by staying quiet until you return. It can be difficult to stay silent while you’re having such a great time, but it’s also a good way to ensure that strangers won’t know you aren’t there.
Avoid posting your location or letting people know that you’re away publicly. If you really need to share your excitement, only do so through private messages.
Remember, you can always post pictures and share memories from your vacation as soon as you return home. Staying off social media while you’re gone is a good way to keep your home safe and protected.
7. Get a Monitored Home Security System
While a break-in is one thing to worry about while you’re on vacation, other emergencies like a house fire is also another concern. You can prevent the worry by having a home security system professionally installed.
Make sure you choose home monitoring services that will alert local authorities if anything is awry. These systems will automatically contact your local fire or police departments so they can dispatch to your address and check things out.
It’s worth it to have a monitored system while you’re gone or even when you’re back at home. These systems can help to make sure that someone is always looking out for your property.
If the alarm goes off, you can rest assured that someone will come to your home as soon as possible. These systems can be a real lifesaver, especially in the event of a fire, since every single second counts.
8. Hire a Sitter
If you have the money and someone you trust, a house or pet sitter is another great way to protect the house. When you have someone staying in your home while you’re away, there’s always someone there watching out for your property.
Even if you don’t want to or can’t hire a full-time house sitter, a pet sitter is still a great option. The pet sitter will come to your home at least a few times per day to check on your pet and the house.
This simple act can ensure that there’s someone constantly checking on the house while you’re gone, and it’s also great for Fido, too. Hiring a pet sitter is less stressful on your animals rather than putting them in a kennel.
When you move your pets and house them in a different place, it can cause undue stress. Consider a house sitter or a pet sitter who can make you and your furry friends feel more comfortable.
Always hire a sitter you know and trust so there’s no need to worry. It’s going to cost you extra money, but the peace of mind you get in exchange is well worth the money.
9. Install a Variety of Alarms
You don’t need a complex security system to give you peace of mind when you’re away. A few home security alarms can be all it takes to deter criminals and alert your neighbors of any suspicious activity.
Alarms for the home come in a wide variety of styles depending on your needs. Glass break alarms are a great deterrent that will sound a super-loud alarm as soon as a glass door or window is broken.
Most burglars will keep moving if they notice you have alarms installed. Just the simple act of adding alarms can often be enough to keep break-ins from occurring.
Not only do alarms make you feel more secure, but they’re also a great way to alert your neighbors if something happens. Most people will run away as soon as the alarm sounds, so you probably won’t need to worry about things being stolen upon your return.
10. Unplug Appliances and Electronics
To prevent the risk of a fire, consider unplugging all of your electronics and some of your appliances before you leave. You’ll want to leave things like the refrigerator plugged in, but you should unplug all electronics when possible.
Take a quick walk through your home the day you leave and start unplugging the TV set, all computers, and other items. Make sure lights like table and floor lamps stay plugged in, especially if you’re using them on a timer to turn on later.
When you unplug things you’re not using, you will also save on your electric bill. Why pay money for something you aren’t going to use for an extended period of time?
Unplugging stuff can also reduce the risk of an electrical short, which may result in a house fire. Double-check every item in the home to make sure it’s unplugged before you head out for your vacation.
11. Be Conscious of GPS Systems
If you still have a GPS unit in your car, it’s a good idea to remove it and turn it off before you head out for vacation. Some criminals use the GPS system in vehicles to figure out if someone is home or not.
This simple and quick to-do can save you a lot of headaches later. If you use GPS, never leave the unit inside your vehicle if you park at the airport.
Criminals can take GPS units from cars and use them to lead them right to your front door. The best thing you can do is to turn yours off, take it with you, or just store it somewhere that’s nowhere near your vehicle.
12. Check Your Property Upon Return
As soon as you get back from your glorious vacation, do a once-over to make sure that nothing looks out of place. Check all of your windows and doors to look for any signs of a possible breach.
A quick overview of your property can help you determine if everything is safe and secure. If you happen to notice something that looks suspicious, contact your local police department immediately.
Take photographs of anything that appears to be out of sorts in case you need to file an insurance claim. A quick check of your property both inside and out can help to ensure that everything is still the way it should be.
Get Peace of Mind for a Fun Vacation
Use these 12 tips to help you protect the house for your next long vacation. From hiring a house sitter to installing a CCTV system, these steps can ensure that your property is protected.
Avoid posting your away status on social media, and put your lights on a timer so criminals will think someone is home.
If you need locksmith or security services for your home or business, visit our website to learn more and to request service online today.