Everyone needs to take a break from the stresses of work. For some, it can mean taking the time to get away from it all and leave the house to travel somewhere. However, keeping your home secure can leave you with the stress that you’ve wanted to avoid. Avoid all the hassle and enjoy your vacation with these helpful ideas. Don’t let your home’s security become the reason why you need to get away from it all in the first place.
Keep Openings Locked
Before you leave the premises, and even while you’re planning, you need to make sure that all your doors and windows can be locked and are so. These include the windows on the upper floors and your garage door, especially if you’re leaving your vehicle behind. In case you have some that can’t be adequately locked, you’d need to either replace the locks or the fixtures themselves. For example, you can find a lot of secure garage doors in various stores to replace your old one.
Get a Friend to House-Sit
Thieves often go for houses that they know are abandoned, so you can ask some people you trust to take care of yours for you. Get yourself a close friend or family member to live in your place in the meantime. Of course, you should let them know ahead of time, and make sure that they have means to feed themselves and attend to emergencies. Also, take the time to set some rules for them to follow so that you won’t end up with a messy and stressful place when you return.
Consider Automatic Light Switchers
If there’s no one you can ask to take care of the house for you, then you may get the idea of leaving your lights open instead. However, that would make you waste electricity and money, especially if you’re planning on a long trip. That is unless you find a way to make themselves turn on and off at appropriate times. Nowadays, some devices do such a thing, and they are available for purchase and installation. It can take a bit of effort, but it’s worth it.
Leave the Updates for Later
One of the trends nowadays when it comes to vacations is posting pictures about them on social media. Back then, it wasn’t much of a concern, but now, thieves are getting smarter. When they have you in their sights, they’ll be learning a lot more about you. Your real-time posts on social media are going to be their way of knowing that your house is unattended. To prevent that from happening, you should leave the updates until after you have returned.
Leaving your home alone during your vacation time doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be simple and leave you with little to worry, as long as you’re careful and don’t leave any weak spots that thieves might take advantage of. After you’re done securing your house, go and make use of your well-deserved vacation time. You deserve it.