Vacation is a time to relax, kick back, and get away from the stresses of the real world. So spending your entire vacation worrying about something going wrong at your house isn’t any fun.
No matter if you’re worried about someone breaking into your home, your dog tearing up your furniture, or a busted pipe, there are ways to protect your house while you’re away on vacation.
Additional protection while you’re away can help provide you with peace of mind so that you can fully enjoy your vacation. Next time you’re planning a vacation, keep the following tips in mind.
Call on a friend
While using various technology to secure your home is a great plan, you’ll still want a friend or family member to stop by your house on occasion. If someone is scouting out your house, they will eventually notice that nobody is ever going in or out.
Having a friend stop by randomly while you are away can help lower your chances of getting robbed. Try to get them to stop by at different times instead of making it routine. Also, someone walking through your house will notice things that technology can’t pick up on, such as a leaking pipe.
Use a peephole camera
Peephole cameras monitor your door. If someone approaches your door, you can receive an alert on your phone. Most peephole cameras will stream footage to your phone, as well as give you the option to talk to the person.
This feature is useful while you’re away because you can still talk to potential visitors as though you were at home. You’ll also be aware if you receive a delivery while on vacation. If you’re interested in learning more about peephole cameras or learning about the different brands of cameras that are available, visit a site such as StealthyNinjas.com.
Set-up interior cameras
While peephole cameras can help you protect your exterior, you may also want to consider some sort of interior camera. Interior cameras are particularly useful if you’re planning on leaving pets behind while you’re away. They can also be useful if someone does manage to break into your house.
If you have pets, an interior camera can let you see what they’re doing. Most interior cameras stream to your phone, which also allows you to talk through the camera. So if your dog starts chewing up your favorite couch pillows while you’re away, you can tell him to stop!
Stop mail delivery
This is something many people don’t think about. If you have newspapers delivered to your house, eventually there will be a plethora of yellowing papers on your front lawn. Or, depending on how much mail you get, your mailbox could overflow.
If mail is going untouched for several days, this could alert potential burglars that nobody is home. You can talk to your local post office to have your mail delivery temporarily stopped. If you decide not to stop your mail, have a friend stop by at least once two days to pick up your mail and newspaper.
Keep valuables secure
To help keep your valuables safe, consider purchasing a fireproof safe. Any important documents (such as your birth certificate), family heirlooms, expensive jewelry, and any other items you don’t want to be stolen should go into the safe. Make sure the combination of the safe is challenging.
This way, if your house does get broken into, your most valuable possessions will be kept safe. If you don’t want to purchase a personal fireproof safe, you can rent a safe deposit box at your local bank. Keeping your valuables safe while you’re away will give you additional peace of mind.
Manually lock garage
Many homeowners don’t realize how easy it is to hack into an automatic garage door. Not to mention, some garage doors respond to universal remotes. Because of this, some burglars will manage to get inside the garage using the automatic garage door. If the garage is attached to the house, they can then have easier access to the house.
Turn off your automatic garage door before leaving for vacation. For additional security, consider purchasing a manual lock for the door. And if your interior doors can be accessed through your garage, don’t forget to lock them before you leave!
Stay quiet on Facebook
It might be tempting to share all of your vacation photos on social media while you’re away, but if someone is monitoring your account, they will immediately know that you’re not home. This lets them know that now is the perfect time to break into your house.
Avoid mentioning when you are going away and where you’re going on any social media platform. Do not share photos of your vacation until after you get back. If you’re normally active on social media, you might still want to write a few posts, but just be mindful not to mention your vacation.
Use automatic lights
Finally, another way burglars scout houses is by checking to see if lights are turning on and off. Several nights of no lights flickering on and off is a sure sign that nobody is home. However, you also want to avoid leaving just one single light on. This can also alert burglars that nobody is home.
The best way to go about this is to use automatic lights that turn on randomly throughout the night in different rooms. Depending on how tech-savvy you are, there are also smart lights that you can control from your phone. Of course, you want to avoid creating obvious patterns as to when lights are on or off.
Final thoughts
If you’re going on vacation, take the necessary steps to protect your house while you’re away.
Different technology, such as streaming interior cameras and smart lights, can help keep you safe. In addition to tech devices, however, you’ll want to have a friend stop by your house on occasion.
A few careful preparations can allow you to have a peaceful, relaxing holiday that you deserve!