Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe While Away for an Extended Time

If you are planning on leaving town for longer than a few days, it is important to make sure everything in your home is in order. Here are some steps to take to ensure that your home will remain safe and secure during your time away.

Inform Your Neighbors

Having good relationships with those who live closest to you extends beyond block parties and casseroles. Talk to your neighbors before you begin your trip and let them know where you are going and for how long. Neighbors can help with taking down flyers and other advertisement to prevent potential robbers from knowing that you are not home. Many neighborhoods have watch programs to monitor for criminal activity and break-ins. Let your neighborhood watch know that you are going to be gone as well, so they can keep a closer eye on your home.

Protect Against Pests

There are many types of bugs and critters that can sneak into your home when you leave it vacant for longer periods of time. Bugs such as the earwig, the Argentine Ant and termites can enter your home through even the tiniest cracks in the doors or foundation. No matter what time of year it is, bugs are a risk, but they are particularly likely to invade during the summer season. Schedule a bug inspection performed by a pest controller for right before you leave, to make sure that your home is fully protected against species that are likely to reside in your residence. Before you leave, it is ideal to throw out crumbly food, such as bread, and clean countertop surfaces to avoid attracting these pests.

Hire a House Sitter

It may be a good idea to employ the services of a house sitter if you are going to be away for longer than a few days. House sitters can get your mail for you, keep an eye on your pets and water your plants to keep them healthy and hydrated in your absence. You can hire a neighbor to do this for you, or if you are uncomfortable with that idea, you can search for a local house sitting company and have a professional come to your home every day as another option. The rate a house sitter charges will vary based on the amount of work that needs to be done on a daily basis and whether or not you require him or her to stay overnight.

Hold Your Mail

Thieves can potentially spot a target by checking to see if homeowners have picked up their mail. To alleviate this worry, it may be a good idea to contact your local post office about having your mail put on hold for the duration of your vacation. You should be able to request a mail hold up to a month before you want service to begin. If you are going to be away for several weeks at a time, it might be a better option to have your mail forwarded, a service that costs a nominal fee but can be beneficial nonetheless. This way, you will not have to worry about missing important mail while you are gone.

Invest in Cameras

Burglars are 60 percent less likely to break into a home if they see a security camera system in use. These cameras are not only a useful deterrent, but they can also record video evidence if a crime is committed. The best places to place security cameras are around areas that are more likely to be used in a break-in, such as the back door or windows that someone could easily fit through. Many systems also have applications that can be downloaded to your phone, which alert you of breaches and can provide you with footage of what is happening so you can inform local authorities.

No matter how short or long of a time you will be out of your home, with these tips, you are guaranteed to be at ease and have less to worry about.