Preparing for vacations can be a hectic time. You go over your checklist again and again – passport, tickets, toothbrush, underwear. When you leave, you hopefully have everything you’ll need for your trip. Before you leave though, be sure your home is ready for you to be gone. Your vacation time is also the perfect time for a burglar to break into your house.
First, don’t announce to the world that you’ll be gone. Changing your status on Facebook or Twitter to “I’ll be partying in the Caribbean for the next week” may be tempting. You’d get jealous remarks from friends, but you’d also be telling everyone that your house will be deserted for an entire week – the perfect time for a burglar to drop by your house. Also, incase a burglar calls your phone to see if you’re home, don’t put on your answering machine that you’ll be out of town.
Second, clean up outside your home. Mow the lawn, trim the trees, and water your flowers. If the yard is well cared for, it will look like someone is at home. A tall lawn will signal a burglar that no one has been home for awhile. Also, arrange to have your mail held at the Post Office or have someone pick it up for you. A stack of mail and newspapers is also a signal to burglars that no one is home and might not be for some time. In addition, this will keep important mail like paychecks and bank statements safe.
Another way to keep your home safe is to get a house sitter or tell a neighbor/friend that you’ll be out of town. Not only can they water your plants and feed your pets, but they can keep an eye on your house as well. Leave phone numbers where your house sitter can reach you.
As you leave, close and lock all windows. Double check to make sure all candles are extinguished and irons and ovens are off. Lastly, lock all doors, and enjoy your vacation!
