Don’t let the thoughts of spring break fun clutter your mind when it comes to making your home safe while you are away. Leave your worries behind and secure your property before even before you start packing. There are a variety of safeguards you can put in place to scare off possible intruders while you’re off on vacation. You can also put some provisions in place to give your home that “lived in” look. Here are four ways you can avoid a spring break in.
1. Securing Your Home
You want to make your home safe, on both the inside and outside, when you go away on a trip. You want to create an illusion of being home. You can do that by:
- Advertising your alarm monitoring service with a sticker in your front window or a sign on your lawn
- Installing surveillance cameras on the perimeter of your house and property
- Removing hidden or extra house keys you have on your porch
- Locking up valuables such as cash and jewelry, as well as important paperwork in a fire-proof safe
- Putting your newspaper and mail delivery on hold and having a neighbor handle your trash cans on collection day
- Alerting your home alarm monitoring service about your plans your home security system company of your vacation, and make sure all door and window alarms working.
2. Monitoring from Afar
Today’s technology allows you to keep an eye on your property and have peace of mind when you aren’t there. You can strategically monitor and record the goings on in your home from any electronic device by placing cameras around your property. Through live video and audio streaming, you can tell whether there’s a package left on your front porch, a door propped open or an intruder in your house.
Another way to monitor your home safety is by installing a variety of sensors that are triggered when there is:
- A trespasser
- Smoke
- Excess heat
- Freezing pipes
- Indoor flooding
- Open door or window
Other sensors that can signal you if there’s a problem with the following items:
- Outdoor temperature
- Wind
- Rain or snow
- Indoor or outdoor motion
You can also transform your smartphone into a remote security camera by downloading one of the many apps available that will alert of any problems via notifications.
3. Finding Care for Your Pets
If your spring break plans do not include bring your pets along, you will want to consider finding some care for them. Even if you are only gone for one or two days, a dog left home alone may start barking non-stop, which is not only a nuisance for nearby neighbors, but also a warning call to possible intruders that no one is home. To keep your home a little safer this spring break, consider one of these options:
- Boarding at a Kennel: Ask family, friends and even your veterinarian for a kennel. This is good if you don’t know anyone who can watch your pet while you are away.
- Using a Pet Sitter: You can choose a pet sitter who either stays in your home while you’re gone or conveniently stops by a few times a day for feeding and bathroom breaks.
4. Keeping Your Vacation Plans Off-Line
We know how easy it is to tell all your friends and followers on social media about your upcoming vacation plans. However, it’s best to keep those plans off the Internet until you return as a means of keeping yourself, your family and your home safe. You can always email or text pictures and other information about your trip to your friends and family.
5. Use Common Sense
As you conduct your final security check right before you leave, keep these tasks in mind:
- Unplug electronics and any unused appliances
- Close curtains and blinds
- Set your inside and porch lights on a timer to go on during the time you would normally be home
- Notify your close neighbors that you will gone so they can keep an eye on your house
You can never be too safe when it comes to keeping your home and family secure. Keeping these tips in mind before you go on spring break will help you have a more enjoyable and relaxing vacation.
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