9 Tips To Protect Your Home While You’re Away
October 17, 2017If you and your family are headed away on an extended vacation, it’s important to consider the realities of theft. To ensure your new home is protected in your absence, we’ve compiled a list of tips to keep your Bradley Homes home secure while you’re away from your property:
1. ASK SOMEONE TO CHECK IN ON THINGS
If you will be away from your home for more than a few days, ask a family member, friend, or trusted neighbour to check in on your home and property. Should you have pets or plants, also ask that they feed and take care of them on your behalf. Should you simply need someone to make sure all is safe while you’re away, ask that they keep an eye out, retrieve your mail, shovel if necessary, and make sure the home looks lived-in. These small but helpful tricks will help to keep your home safe.
2. REMOVE YOUR SPARE KEY
If you keep a spare key under a mat, in a plant, or in your garage, be sure to remove it while you’re away. Thieves will look for spare keys. Don’t give them an easy opportunity to walk right in. If you do need to leave a key behind for someone, ask that they hold onto it and that they do not leave it on the property.
3. USE LIGHT TIMERS
Light timers increase security as they convey the appearance that someone is home and turning on the light at night. The extra light also provides extra visibility, so burglars can’t slip into your home as discretely. If you don’t have a timer, consider leaving an exterior light on that keeps your garage door visible to your neighbours 24/7 while you’re away.
4. INCREASE DOOR SECURITY
Thieves typically target homes when no one is around when people are asleep at night and properties where garages, doors, and windows are hidden from street view. It’s important to keep your doors and windows in-view by clearing and trimming shrubbery that could keep a burglar discreet. You can also protect your home by locking up all valuables that could be stolen if someone managed to get into your garage or into your home by breaking a door down. Additional tips include:
Keep your garage door opener out of your car (if you’re leaving it behind).
Always lock doors that connect your home or business to your garage.
Frost or tint your windows, so burglars will not be able to see inside.
5. HIDE & LOCK AWAY VALUABLES
Be sure to hide and lock away any priceless items, expensive jewelry, electronics, or money in a safe or at a friend or family member’s house. Should someone manage to get inside your home while you’re away on vacation, you’ll at least know your most treasured items are secured.
6. DO NOT POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Thieves will consult social media to determine if and when known residents of the property will be away. Unfortunately, some thieves may even be people you have allowed to follow you on social media and whom you may have blindly trusted. Be sure not to give specific details as to where you live, what your routine is, vacation details, etc. The more you put online, the more vulnerable your home may become.
7. LOCK WINDOWS & DOOR
Before leaving for vacation, make sure to check all of your doors and windows to ensure they are stable and secure. If you have an alarm system, turn it on and notify your family and friends that an alarm system is in place (should they happen to stop by). For extra precaution, you can call your alarm system company to notify them of your absence.
8. UNPLUG UNNECESSARY ELECTRONICS & APPLIANCES
To save energy and the risk of any electric sparks potentially causing damage to your home, unplug all unnecessary electronics and appliances. To save energy, you should also consider lowering the temperature in your home or turning off your furnace or AC completely.
9. DEACTIVATE YOUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER
If able, set your garage door opener to vacation mode. Some thieves attempt to hack remote controlled systems using randomizer remotes and will drive down a street to see which garage doors they can open.
Should you wish to get in touch with us for any reason, give us a call.
Have a wonderful and safe vacation!