When going on vacation, it’s important to make sure your home looks “lived in” to keep unwanted visitors away. These tips for making your home secure while on vacation are ones we used before our recent vacation.
Make sure your home is secure
- Hire a house sitter or pet sitter. This is the ideal plan that makes most of the other suggestions less important, but it’s not always possible.
- Hold the mail and newspapers.
- Ask a neighbor to check the house. This may include moving the trash can back when it’s empty, watering plants, moving your car a couple of times, and maybe mowing the lawn. You’ll probably have to pay to have the lawn mowed!
- Make sure all windows and doors are locked when you leave.
- Turn off the garage door opener and don’t leave a portable GPS in your car at the airport (provides easy directions to your house!)
- Put interior and exterior lights and TV on a timer to make it appear that you’re home at various times of the day and night.
- A home security sign in the yard may deter criminals anytime, not just while you’re on vacation.
- Put a dowel or pin/nail in windows and sliding doors to make them more secure.
- Don’t discuss your vacation plans in public (including at work) to avoid being overheard.
Most of these tips are just common sense, but it’s a good idea to plan ahead of time when you’ll be away. Just having someone stop by once a day to feed your pets can make a difference.
A good source for pet sitters or other home services is by neighbor recommendations through the NextDoor website. This is a good way to keep up with activities (good and bad) in your area. We are in East Athens and are connected with Cedar Creek, University Heights, Green Acres, Olde Lexington Gardens and others. It’s a great community with good information.
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