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Everyone loves to go on vacations, but when we come back, we expect everything to be safe and in place as we left them. Unfortunately, burglars love taking advantage of our absence, and most fire accidents are other such mishaps also take place when we are away. Here are a few tips that can help you keep your home safe while you are on your vacation.
- Switch off and unplug all your electrical appliances: If you are going away for a long time, then it would be wise to switch off and unplug all your electrical appliances. As far as turning off the refrigerator is concerned, empty it, clean it and then unplug it. Also unplug other appliances, including your coffee pots, computers, garage doors, etc. Doing this will reduce the risk of catching an electrical fire, and also save money on your utility bills.
- Hold your mails: While you are on vacation, ask someone to pick up the newspaper and check the mailbox regularly for you. You do not want to allow your valuable mails hanging out in the mailbox, as someone may peek into them. Too many uncollected mails may also hint the burglars that you are away, and your home is open for them. Before leaving, cancel any mails and even call the post office to hold your mails for some time.
- Do not make your house look empty: A dark house is the first house any burglar will try to enter in. So, in order to make your house look lived-in, leave your blinds and shades as you usually do, use a time controller to light up your yard and porch, and schedule someone to collect your garbage, sweep your sidewalks, and mow your lawns regularly.
- Lock up properly: This may seem obvious, but locking all doors and windows is often forgotten. If you leave a window unlocked or do not turn the deadbolt of your kitchen door, then it may make your house more attractive to an opportunistic burglar. The idea is to not to make your home easy for an intruder. If you have a security alarm system in your home, do not forget to arm it before leaving.
If you have a family member, friend or neighbor to sit in the house for you while you are on vacation, then you can be sure that your house is safe from any mishaps in your absence. They can not only make your house look lived-in, but also take care of your pipes, pets and lawns.
Know when doors, drawers or valuable items have moved
Easily find where you left your keys in the house
Know when people knock on your door and the mail arrives
Know if doors or windows unexpectedly open
Know when people, cars, or pets arrive and leave
Easily find where you left your keys in the house
Know when people knock on your door and the mail arrives
Know if doors or windows unexpectedly open
Know when people, cars, or pets arrive and leave
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I'm so worried about this, sometimes. But, I hope my loud jerky dog will be a deterrent. LOL Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Candy! Yes, a loud dog would surely scare off intruders.
DeleteThose are all great tips. I usually hit up my next door neighbor to grab my mail whenever we go away so it doesn't pile up in the mailbox while we are away!
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea Robin!
DeleteAlso, don't post that you are out of town on FB or Twitter. It's just advertising that your house is empty. Good tips!
ReplyDeleteThat's a really good one! You never know what predators are watching your social networks.
DeleteThis is probably the best one. All FB Friends aren't friends... plus with the extra sharing that FB does now, announcing an extended vacation is a sure target.
DeleteExcellent tips Lou! As they say, it's better to be safe than sorry.
ReplyDeleteVery true Zakkiya!
DeleteI am constantly paranoid whenever we go out of town, especially if it is for a week or more. I do stop the mail and have it held at the post office. I do unplug everything. Luckily, I do live in an apartment building with only eight units in it, but I still worry. We have a patio, but we're on the second floor, so that makes me feel a little better.
ReplyDeleteI live in a apartment as well on the third floor. My neighbors are always on the lookout for each other for suspicious activity and I'm happy to have a 24 hour security.
DeleteHaving my apartment broken in to is one of my fears!!! Living in Italy we do have these huge shutters that go on the windows and like 4 doors to actually get into our apartment - but the burglars here are like PROS. I've heard stories of people breaking in and styling jewelry ON someone WHILE they slept!
ReplyDeleteThanks for tips!!!!!
OMG now that's scary!!!!!!
DeleteGreat tips. One thing though is not to tell everyone on your social media that you are out of town or posting pictures. There are some insurance companies out there who won't pay if they find this out.
ReplyDeleteWow Tammy, I never knew that! Thanks for the great tip!
DeleteDef have the neighbor come and show up at your house as if there is activity on your property. Also leave a radio on.
ReplyDeleteThose are some great tips Aimee! I never thought about leaving the radio on.
DeleteGreat tips! Those are all give things to keep in mind!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jillian!
DeleteThese are all great tips (including the ones in the comments)!
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about the tips in the comments here! Very helpful!
DeleteGreat tips! The internet makes it so scary with everyone knowing who is out and when!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I check in on Foursquare all the time when I'm out and about but when on vacation, I post "after the fact." :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a very smart thing to do Elayna!
DeleteThose are all very good tips.. but i think you missed 1 very important one.. do not state you are gone on any social media site.. that just leaves things wide open for attack.
ReplyDeleteThat is very true. I do it on my personal Facebook that is private and only my family and friends I trust can see.
DeleteGood tips...I agree with the others comments about social media broadcasting lol....especially giving out specific dates and times that's just silly. Thanks for sharing Lou!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Cookie!
DeleteThis is such a valid worry. I hate leaving my house for long periods of time. We were robbed 3x in our last house and it SUCKS!
ReplyDeleteOMG Jeanna that's terrible! But the good thing is your family and you are safe.
DeleteExcellent tips. We always have a friend with a key, who comes by at random times to make it look like someone is at home.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips! I try do all of this before we go away.
ReplyDeleteThese are great tips. I know that another that my family uses is having the light come on and off at different times. You can get a timer to make the light switch on and people think that you are home.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of something like that. I need to look into getting a timer. Great idea!
DeleteIt's definitely a good idea to keep mum on social about the fact you're gone. I have neighbors watch the house though, and I happen to live on a street with three police officers so that's a nice deterrent as well.
ReplyDeleteI have a couple of police officers that lives near me too and patrols the area.
DeleteThese are some awesome tips. We always try our best to not let it be known that we are not home on social media.
ReplyDeleteThat's really good Katherine!
DeleteThese are very useful tips admin!! We have an intrusion alarm from fire monitoring here in Canada. But these handy tips are very useful for every mom like me :)
ReplyDelete