Everybody loves a vacation; good food, a relief from work and a chance to read a good book.
Going on vacation means your home is more susceptible to theft in your absence. Of course, you should
always make sure your windows and doors are locked, but here are a few other tips to keep your home
safe and your mind at ease while you enjoy your time off.
Suspend your newspaper service. A few days’ worth of flyers and newspapers sitting on your
doorstep is a sign that no one is home to collect them. It pretty much advertises to everyone who walks
by that your home is unattended. So call your local newspaper provider and have your delivery service
suspended until your return. You can also have a neighbor collect any flyers or advertisements that
people may leave on your doorstep.
Invest in timed or motion censored lights. Of course, a house that hasn’t had a single light on in
a week is also a sign that no one is home. This can easily be remedied by putting the lights on your porch
or next to your doorstep on a timer for when you usually turn them on at night. It’s also a good idea to
do the same with a few lights in the rear of your home for good measure.
Don’t advertise your vacation. The last thing you want to do is put an automated response on
your email saying, “I am on vacation or out of the country and will respond to your email upon my
return,” letting everyone and their mother know you’ll be away from your home for a while. You may
want to try something a bit more subtle like, “I am currently out of the office on appointments and will
respond to your email at my earliest convenience.” And please, don’t go all over
Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media site that allows people you don’t know access to your
information, posting things like, “On my way to the airport, Buenos Aires for three weeks! Here I come!”
Enough said right?
Ask someone to house sit. If you don’t feel like bothering with timed lights and want a little
more peace of mind, you may want to ask someone to house sit for you. This can be a close neighbor or
relative or you can always hire someone. Having someone you trust stay in your home while you’re
away is the easiest way to give the appearance that your home is still being inhabited while you’re away.
This person can spend a few hours each day in your home performing daily chores like feeding the cat
and watering the plants in addition to making your home seem occupied. This is a great way to ensure
you enjoy your vacation and have a happy homecoming.
Whether you decide to hire someone to watch your home or decide to go with timed and
censored lights, you want to make sure you inform someone you trust of your absence. Even if they’re
not house sitting for you, they can be available in the event of an emergency or if you need someone to
check up on something you may have forgotten. Make sure this person knows how to reach you, and
don’t be afraid to call them with any additional concerns you may have, because once you have peace of
mind about your home you’ll be able to fully enjoy your vacation.
