Your Guide to Home Security While on Vacation
Vacations are a much-needed and anticipated opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. However, a relaxing holiday for you is an opportunity for burglars to break into your home while it is unattended.
Luckily, with a mixture of technology and simple precautions, you can enjoy your time away while ensuring your home is safe and secure. Keep reading as this guide takes you through effective strategies for home security while on vacation.
Home Security Tips When Going On Vacation
Leave your cares behind with these solutions for protecting your home while on vacation. From innovative smart home technology to more old-fashioned methods, here are some home security tips you can use to enhance your home security system and deter any threats:
Tip #1: Install a Smart Home Security System
Innovative technology like smart home automation is a game changer for keeping your home safe. Installing security cameras that allow you to remotely check on your home or detect activity with motion sensors will contribute to a secure home.
Smart bulbs set to turn on the lights at random times can help conceal the fact that you aren’t at home, and video doorbells connected to smartphone apps let you see and respond to any visitors coming to your front door. Video doorbells are also handy for spotting any packages left at your door, so you can ask a trusted neighbour to take care of them until you return.
Read more: How do Doorbell Cameras Work?
Tip #2: Secure your Windows and Doors
Your windows and doors are the first line of defense for securing your home and its entry points. Before leaving on vacation, inspect your home’s doors and windows to ensure they’re all closed and locked properly. This includes the garage door, too. If your home has sliding doors, insert a bar or dowel in the sliding track to prevent forced entry.
Tip #3: Invest in an Alarm System
An alarm system can add extra security to your home while you’re away. An advanced set up with professional monitoring from a surveillance team provides unparalleled peace of mind. With experts watching your house round the clock, you can trust that any suspicious activity or break-ins will be handled by the proper authorities.
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Tip #4: Automate and Monitor the Utilities
If you’re away from home for a few weeks, devices like smart thermostats allow you to regulate your home’s power use and temperature, protecting your home while on vacation. Not only will this save you money on utility bills, it also keeps the environment stable and consistent, so you don’t have to worry about pipes freezing in cold weather.
Environmental hazard detectors and ULC fire alarm monitoring further increase your home’s safety. Double check your electronic systems are working properly, and all non-essential electronic devices are disconnected before you leave town.
Read more: Why ULC Certification Is Important for Fire Alarm Monitoring
Tip #5: Recruit Help From a Friend, Family Member, or Neighbour
An overflowing mailbox, outdoor lights on 24/7, or deliveries piling up by the front door are clear signs to burglars that no one is home. Enhance your home security while on vacation by enlisting a neighbour or friend to be a house sitter for you. Having them collect any delivered items, water plants, and make sure everything is fine inside your house gives the appearance that the house is lived in. A well-maintained property and regular visits from a house sitter make your house less attractive to potential thieves.
Pro Tip: Keep track of your spare keys. If you keep a key hidden for the friend or family member taking care of your home, make sure it is well hidden.
Tip #6: Create the Illusion That Someone Is Home
As mentioned above, creating the illusion that someone is home lowers the likelihood that your home will be a target. Leaving “signs of life” around your property in combination with a house sitter is a good precaution.
Simple tactics like a pair of shoes on the porch or set timers for outdoor lights work in harmony with your security systems to deter potential burglars and other threats. You could even ask a neighbour or friend who lives close by to park in your driveway for added peace of mind.
Tip #7: Avoid Advertising your Vacation
The last of our home security tips when going on vacation is to avoid sharing that you’ll be away from home as much as possible. Posting about a trip may seem harmless, but criminals are becoming more and more savvy. They can monitor social media accounts to find vulnerable targets.
To increase your home security while on vacation, consider delaying posts about your vacation until you’ve returned home. If you can’t wait to post about your trip, you can adjust your privacy settings so only people you know and trust can see them.
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Home Security Tips: Final Walkthrough Checklist
Protecting your home while on vacation doesn’t have to be complicated. Before you leave, do a final walk-through and go through this checklist:
Lock All Windows and Doors: Take the time to check each of them one by one. A hardly used window or door can easily be missed and remain unlocked.
Test Your Alarm System: Take the time to ensure your alarm system is functioning at optimal levels.
Adjust the Thermostats and Any Timers: Set any timers for your light system to mimic your current daily routine.
Shut Off All Water Valves: Many homes have a main shut-off valve that can easily be turned off at departure and turned back on when you return.
Check your Homeowner’s Policy. This gives exact guidelines from your home insurance company that you may need to follow.
Secure Your Home Even While on Vacation With PasWord Protection
Following the simple tips in this guide can help reduce the risks homeowners face while away. For the best effect, take all necessary precautions and combine these strategies with an effective security system. To maximize your home security while on vacation, leave it to the experts at a home security company.
PasWord Protection has been Ontario residents’ trusted residential security provider for over 60 years. Our professional installation services and advanced security system options, such as 24/7 professional monitoring and video doorbells, have enhanced the safety of homeowners across the Golden Horseshoe.
Contact us today for a free quote. Secure your home the next time you’re away for an extended period of time.
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