How do you protect your home while on vacation? Take the necessary steps
Are you going to the cottage for a couple of days or away on vacation? If so, protecting your home is just as important as protecting the items you bring along. Make sure to take the necessary steps to protect your home and be relaxed while you’re away!
Home security system
Home security is essential.
In case you don’t actually have an alarm system, here are a few simple ways to make your own a bit more secure :
- Install an outdoor sensor light
- Activate timers on your indoor lights or electronics to make it seem like there’s activity at home
- You can even advertise a security system (even if you have none) with a sticker on your door or windows!
Lock up valuables in a safe
When you go away, it’s also suggested to put all your jewels, cash and other valuables into a safe. Just in case your home is broken into, the burglars likely won’t get to your truly valuable stuff.
Leave your blinds open
Do you, usually, leave the blinds open during the day? Perfect! Well, don’t close them when you’re going on holiday. It may seem strange, but if you close your blinds, it’s also an obvious giveaway to burglars that you may be away.
Lock Everything and disconnect your garage door
It’s common sense, but be sure to lock every single possible entry to your home. Before you leave, go through the house and lock every window and every door.
Also, be careful of your garage door openers! Disconnect them and opt for a manual lock to avoid having resourceful thieves open your garage door with a universal remote…
Your GPS can lead burglars directly to your home
When you leave your car at the airport or in your hotel parking, a burglar can break in, turn on the GPS unit and often find out exactly where home is. We know it seems unlikely, but hey, why risk it?
If you have a portable unit, don’t leave it in the car. If you have a built-in unit, set “home” for something other than your actual exact address (a cafe, a pub,..).
Keep a low profile on social media!
Nowadays, we instantly want to share our holiday stories and pictures on the internet.
Why is that a problem you may ask? Well, because it’s broadcast to the ‘entire’ world that you aren’t home.
Pay attention to what you’re posting and when you’re posting! Why not just wait until you come back home from your journey to share these amazing pictures?
Make a Vacation Checklist
Having a checklist for when you’re about to leave the house for a couple of days could help you avoid forgetting some important things.
As well as having a few other points in it, review the checklist of security steps to take before leaving (those we’ve mentioned above that are relevant to your specific situation).
Use this list whenever you leave for a couple of days, and eventually these steps will automatically come into your head, but the list will always be there to make sure you do not forget anything!
Ask Someone to Keep an Eye on Things
Do you have a good neighbour, a friend or a family member who you can give a key to? That’s one of the best, cheapest, and simplest ways to protect your home. Just by having someone stop by your house a few times throughout your vacation will reassure you.
Purchasing Home Insurance
Obviously, another way to protect your home from all risk is by getting home insurance.
Knowing that your valuables are protected and insured will allow you to feel better for leaving some of them behind. Additionally, tenant and condo insurance cover all your belongings and gives you liability and legal coverage if needed!