TIPS TO KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE WHILE ON VACATION

Are you planning a spring or summer vacation?

You have probably been dreaming about the location, searching for hotels

 and flights and making plans for all the things you want to see and do...

.but have you given any thought to keeping your home safe while you are gone?

Your home is one of the biggest purchases of your life, so you definitely want to

put some thought into how you are going to keep it safe while you are away. 

Here are a few suggestions to get you started!

1.  Lights - leave a couple of lights on inside your home, or better yet, put a few lights on a timer so they turn on and off giving the illusion that someone home.  On the exterior, make sure the entry to your house is well lit, or consider installing motion lights.  

2.  Mail & Newspapers - a pile of newspapers on the front lawn or in the box is a sure sign that homeowners are away.  Make plans with a neighbor to pick up your mail and newspapers while you are gone, or call the post office and newspaper to make arrangements to have delivery halted while you are away

3.  Car in the Driveway - leaving a car in the driveway or asking a neighbor to park in your driveway while you are gone, give the illusion that someone is home.

4.  Lock it Up - Make sure all the doors and windows to your home are locked.  Make sure you check that basement door or 2nd floor window that rarely get used. 

5.  Spare Key - make sure you remove any hidden key you may have outside of your home.  You may think it is well hidden, but why take the chance that someone will find it.

6.  Lawn - One of the great things about vacation is that you don't have to mow the lawn or shovel the snow...but tall grass or unmarred snow are sure signs that nobody is home.  Make arrangements to have someone take care of the lawn or snow while you are away.

7.  Social Media - You may want to avoid making comments about your vacation or uploading vacation photos to your Facebook account or other social media until you are home.  Advertising that you are away for a week is an open invitation to burglars. 

8.  Police Drive by - some local police departments will drive by and check on homes while the owner is away.  You may want to consider contacting your local police department to see if they provide this service in your community.  If not, consider having a trusted neighbor check on the house.

The more you can make your home look like someone is still coming and going, the safer it should be!  Plan ahead to protect your home and then relax and enjoy your vacation!