While on vacation or away for business, one of the things that can disrupt your peace of mind is worrying about the safety of your home. Especially if you have no one to check up on the house. In addition, crooks have become smarter and can tell you’re not around when the lights are on day and night. So what can you do?
If you receive regular packages, consider rescheduling the delivery dates for when you’re back. Nothing says ‘no one’s home’ like uncollected packages at the door.
Lock everything. Doors and windows to the main house, yard and garage. If your garage door has an automatic opener, disable it. This way, burglars with universal openers can’t gain access. Cover your garage windows so that no one peeps through. If you have an alarm system make sure it’s armed before you leave. Notify your security company that you’ll be away so that they’re aware of any tampering with the system.
If there’s a friend or relative you can trust to check on your home, give them a call. If they have the time they can physically go to the house, look around or spend a night or two there. However if this isn’t possible give them the codes for switching the lights on and off remotely at random times to give the impression that the house is occupied.
Your friends or relatives might be tied up thus unable to visit your house. Not to worry. Just hire a house sitter from a reputable agency. Apart from discouraging burglars, your garden will be tended, packages collected and home kept in order.
You may be having a blast while on vacation, but you might want to hold off posting those photos until you return. Burglars may be snooping on your social media accounts and rejoice to see you’re away. Also, don’t announce to everyone how long you’ll be gone. Save this info for close family/ friends.
