Vacations can be an excellent way to recharge and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life, but when you’re not home to keep an eye on things, your home can become vulnerable to burglars and trespassers.
You don’t want to worry about your home security when you’re on vacation. If you want to know how to keep your home safe while you’re away, follow these steps:
Take Pictures of All Valuables
When going on vacation, make sure to take pictures of all of your valuables. This includes electronics, jewelry, and other household goods. If possible, take a video of these items as well. The more documentation you have of your valuables, such as serial numbers and photos, the easier the retrieval will be if something goes wrong while you’re gone. Make sure to give copies of these documents to a family member or friend who can act on your behalf if there is an emergency at home.
Set Timers on Lights
One easy way to ensure your house is protected when on vacation is by simply setting timers on your outdoor lights. It can deter would-be burglars because they’ll think someone is at home. It might seem like a hassle, but it only takes a minute or two once you get into a routine. And it could be well worth it if there ever were an intruder in your absence.
Just make sure to go through each room and reset the timers so that you don’t come back and find yourself walking into a pitch-black kitchen. There are plenty of apps available for smartphones that can help with timing lights—and even door locks and alarms.
Consider Investing in Security Cameras
A quick internet search will yield dozens of different options for security cameras. Not only are they affordable and easy to install, but most also have internet connectivity so that you can check in on what’s happening at home no matter where you are. Don’t let a thief ruin your vacation. Protect yourself with a security camera system—you’ll be glad you did.
Have a Family Member Keep an Eye Out
If you have a relative or close friend in town, see if they’d be willing to pop by and check on things. It’s another layer of protection, and it doesn’t cost anything. For example, let a trusted neighbor know that they can check up on your house while you’re gone and tell them where all of your essential items are kept. Better yet, ask if they want to let their friends know they can help manage any problems if something goes wrong.
For many people, the community can be significant; if you explain how having multiple eyes on your property can make a big difference, many neighbors will happily oblige. They’ll also give warnings about anomalous activity over time and share neighborhood tips for helping everything run smoothly.
Invest in an Automatic Gate
Most burglars will try to gain access to a house by attempting to scale a fence or door. A sliding gate is one way to prevent climbing, but only if it is electrically activated and secured with an automatic timer. If a burglar can’t enter through the front of your house, they’ll have less opportunity to sneak in another way.
Electric wooden gates are recommended to secure all sides of your property. While an investment such as this might seem excessive for some homeowners, since most break-ins occur from front entrances anyway, you can increase security and peace of mind at home for years to come with one simple purchase.
Keep a Deposit Box
If you’re going on vacation for a long period, think about renting a safe deposit box or an extra room in your house where you can store some of your valuables. Just make sure it’s stored in a location that is easy for you to remember and hard for potential burglars to find. It may also be helpful to change out all of your exterior locks so that there are new locks in place when you leave.
Add More Locks to Your Door
If you have only one lock on your door, or if it’s an easy one to pick, criminals can easily break in and take whatever they want. Consider investing in additional locks for different entry points around your house, such as a deadbolt, knob-and-lock combo, or sliding door pin. The majority of burglars who gain access to homes do so through open windows, often by cutting screens with a knife. Lock your windows and make sure that screens are in place over them.
Final Thoughts
Your home is known to be one of your most valuable assets. To ensure it’s protected, consider these tips as you plan for a vacation. Even if you don’t have a permanent security system in place, following them can help make sure no unwanted visitors make their way into your house when you aren’t around.
