It’s time to go, and you want things to be just as you left them when you return. How do you keep your home safe when you’re thousands of miles away?
Well, here are tips to help you keep your mind on your vacation and not on your home’s security and safety.

1. A house sitter or the friendly neighbor –
“Does that really help and how much can I really ask someone to do while I’m away?” It sounds like you’re asking too much. Yet, it is an excellent way to keep an eye on your home while away. Letting neighbors know you will be away for a week, or more helps keep the whole neighborhood safe.  They can be on the look out for any strange behavior around your home and the surrounding area. Burglars who are successful breaking into one house may come back to break in another. Neighbors can alert the police if someone is spending a usual amount of time around your home.

Burglars who are successful breaking into one house may come back to break in another. Neighbors can alert the police if someone is spending a usual amount of time around your home.

If you have neighbors on the look-out, let them know about anyone who may come by to check inside.

Leave a key with a neighbor or friend to check your home while you’re away. A good time to check may be after an intense storm, and someone needs to make sure power is back on, and there is no damage to your house.

Take a moment to inform your neighborhood watch that you’ll be away and to notify you of any unusual activity in your neighborhood.

Leave a copy of your itinerary with your telephone number
When planning to go on vacation ask yourself – “How can a friend or family member help me keep my home safe while I’m away?”
And, “What information should I leave with them – insurance, contact info, my itinerary?”

The more information you provide, the better they can help and assist.

How about a house sitter?  That’s the best deterrent to crime is someone in your home each day and night.  And, they can take care of things around the house too – watering the plants, caring for pets and having a daily routine in and out of your home.

 

2. Social media –
To share or not to share?
And, how much is too much sharing when trying to keep your home safe? Now, that’s a great question. And, one that should be answered by everyone in the house. No Instagram posting by the teenagers in the home and Facebook is not the family photo album.

Keep yourself and your home safe while vacationing by limiting your social media exposure.

Disable the location features on your social media accounts. When posting do not state that you’re there now checking-in.

Create private pages on Facebook for just close family & friends to see photos in real time.  You can also set up lists of friends and relatives who can view your updates.

Adjust your settings to friends only.  Public setting allows everyone to see.

Keep in mind that others followers can see comments and pictures when friends like, comment and tag your post/updates.

Best of all wait until your return and post “Check out the photos from my vacation last week!”

3. Join forces with the police
There’s no better friend to your home while you’re away than your local police force. Let them know you’re away when traveling for a week or more. While patrolling, they can keep an eye on what’s going on around your neighborhood and especially your home.

Share the name and telephone number of anyone who is watching your home or may have a key.

4. The lights are on – but, no one is home!
Do you leave the lights on or turn them off? Well, the answer lies in what you normally do. Are lights on all night in a particular area? At 8 pm the lights are on and by 11 pm the house is dark. You will want to follow the same routine. Use timers to keep your routine alive.  If lights are blaring at 3 am, but it’s all dark at 9 pm you send a message that no one’s home and the timers are keeping the lights on.

Use timers to keep your routine alive.  If lights are blaring at 3 am, but it’s all dark at 9 pm you send a message that no one’s home and the timers are keeping the lights on.
Set timers to reflect your routine.  Program them before leaving while you have time to adjust them and ensure they keep your routine alive.

5. Stop the Mail!
Either stop the mail or have someone collect it while you’re away. Stop by your post office and complete the form. It’s quick and easy.  Ask questions and make sure you understand the process.  If you are friendly with your postman/woman, let them know you’ll be away.  They know your routine.

I once had a postwoman come up and ring the doorbell because she noticed that the car had not moved from the same position in over a week. And, she knew it was usually driven each day. I was certainly surprise she noticed so much but glad to know someone was looking out for me.

There are several electronic services where your mail can be scanned and sent to you or picked up by a staffer and held for you. These services do cost, and you must feel comfortable with this level of mail handling too.

Don’t forget the newspaper delivery. Piles of newspapers at the end of your driveway shout “I’m not home!”
And, hold off on ordering packages to be delivered while you’re away. Not only will they attract attention, unattended packages can be easily stolen.

6. A spare key under the plant?
We’ve all done it. Placed a key in a secret spot for someone to stop by and check on things for us. The only problem – burglars, know the hiding places too. Don’t make it easy for them. Designate a friend or family member and give them a key.

And, while we are on the subject of keys and locks; double check and check again that everything is locked before leaving.  It sounds simple, but it is very easy to forget a window or not remember someone went out of the basement door.  Lock up and double check before leaving.

Check sliding glass doors and windows. Place a secondary protection with a wooden dowel or pole which fits in the groove of the tracks after closing and locking the door/window.

Yes, they can still shatter the glass, but thieves want what’s easy and less noticeable.  A loud crashing door is not their choice for entering the home.

7. Stay plug or unplug?
The weather while you’re away may include a few thunder and lighting storms. They can cause power surges and electrical problems with your electronics. Surge protectors work well, and the old fashion way does too – unplug! And, you’ll save power and money too.

Although rare, electrical fires can start from items struck by lighting or shortages.  Unplug, unplug and unplug.

8. Curtains open or closed?
We automatically think – closed. But stop for a minute and think about it. Is that the best option? Maintain the appearance that you’re home. If you normally have the curtains open, leave them open but with valuables out of sight. Keep any electronics such as computers, expensive gear, and TVs away from open blinds and curtains. Take a look from the outside-in. What items are clearly visible?  And, if neighbors, friends or the police need to see inside, the closed curtains will be a problem.

A home with windows and blinds closed can attract attention and signal “no one’s home!”

9.Things around the yard –
Put away things that may attract attention. You may usually leave a watering can out or tools for the garden, but put away things that may draw attention and cause someone to notice they have not been moved for days.
And, about the lawn – keep it maintained while away, just as you would while at home.

Ask neighbors or friends to bring your garbage and recycling bins out and back, just as you do when home.

10. Repairs before you go –
Take care of any items that may need repairs before leaving. Sprinkler systems can cause problems and so can a leaky sink. What you don’t want is to come home to problems that you could have avoided with a little pre-planning and action.

11. Sound the alarm –
Let your alarm company know you’ll be away. They know the entry preferences of thieves and will be on alert for window and front door alarms.

Share the code with the person you have checking your home.

Technology is keeping pace with safety and security.  There are apps available for Smartphones which provide a look inside your home using the camera on your phone.

Nest products offer several solutions including a very easy to install camera which works with your wifi and with only a slight delay, you can see real-time action at your home.  Place them inside and outside.

Another great product by Nest is their electronic thermostat where you can set and maintain optimum temperatures for climate control.

12. Safe Keepings
Very expensive valuable can be placed in a safety deposit box while away. Family heirlooms, expensive jewelry and wills should be placed in a spot for “very safe keeping!”

13. Remember your car too –
Lock cars or leave a key with a neighbor or friend to move your car and park in a different spot. And, do not leave your home address in your car parked at the airport, train or bus station. This includes any GPS devices.