There’s nothing quite like packing your bags and getting ready to embark on a big adventure. The excitement of heading away on a holiday, whether it’s for a weekend, a week, or you’re kicking off a long-term trip, really is something special. While there is a lot to prepare before your departure, it’s important not to forget to protect your home while you are away. After all, the last thing you want to be worrying about while you are on your holidays is a break-in back home or to be stressing out about how secure your belongings are in your absence.
If you plan on taking an extended vacation, it’s crucial to consider your home’s safety and security while you’re gone. Since unattended properties are an incredibly tempting target for criminals, you’ll want to take appropriate precautions to prevent yourself from becoming the victim of a break-in. Using security doors and notifying neighbours of your planned absence are a great start but there is a lot more that you can do to ensure your home remains protected so you can enjoy more peace of mind while you are away instead of worrying about the security of your home.
Let’s take a closer look at just some precautions that you can take to ensure a stress-free holiday.
Notify Your Alarm Company
Assuming you have an alarm system installed that communicates back to a security company and also notifies local authorities of potential breaches, you’ll want to inform them of the dates of your absence so that they’ll know ahead of time that any tripped alarms within this period should be regarded as real concerns and not false alerts. Notifying your closest neighbours is also best practice, as they’ll be the closest people to your property until help arrives. They can keep an eye on your property for suspicious activity while you are away. Should something happen, you will know that they are to update you about any situations that may arise.
Upgrade Your Doors And Windows
Security doors are upgraded versions of the standard doors used in home construction but are made from more robust materials. Many homes initially include weak wooden doors and window frames, which are the first things criminals look for when trying to identify a vulnerable entry point. A door with a wooden frame is easily knocked down with a strong kick or using body weight to force the latch to break. Heavy, forged steel and aluminium locks/latches and door frames provide a visual and physical barrier to entering your home making breaking in much more difficult for criminals.
Safety Deposit Boxes
If you keep small, easily transported valuables like jewellery, fine china, currency, precious metals, and high-end portable electronics in your home, acquiring and using a safe deposit box is wise. Banks and post offices offer various-sized boxes to choose from and there are also specialist providers that you can contact regarding secure storage. By storing your most portable and precious valuables outside of the home, if criminals do get in, at least they won’t be leaving with these items. Keeping a safe deposit box means the items are securely guarded 24 hours a day at the bank or facility you choose; this relatively cheap solution provides immeasurable peace of mind, especially if you have very valuable or irreplaceable items in your home.
Don’t Advertise Your Plans Online
While it may seem tempting to get on social media and tell the world how much you are looking forward to that week in paradise, this is not advisable. Sure, your friends and relatives want to hear about the big trip you’ve planned, but not everyone online needs to know. Criminals also use social media and often see holiday plan announcements to identify potential targets. If a burglar knows that your home will be empty for a particular period of time, it will make their job much easier. What’s more, it is also important that you never discuss information relating to the security of your home over publicly viewable online forums of any type, ever.
Automate The Lights And HVAC
Modern security systems allow you to integrate many parts of your home’s internal systems, meaning you can control all of the lights and HVAC systems via a mobile app included with your security system. You can even set up webcams and microphones so that you can visually and audibly monitor your home from any remote location, provided you have internet access. Take full advantage of these features to keep criminals at bay.
Remember burglars are always on the lookout for unoccupied properties as they provide the path of least resistance. A property with lights on inside likely means it’s currently occupied, so use automated timers appropriate to your daily routines to give the impression that someone is home. You can take things to the next level and utilise your closest neighbours once again by having them park one of their vehicles in your driveway, making your residence look as inhabited as possible. You should also ask your neighbours to collect your mail and any deliveries so they don’t pile up while you are away and make your home look uninhabited.
Keep Your Home Protected While You Are On Holiday
Heading away on your holidays for a well-deserved break is always a fantastic feeling. To ensure that you get the very most out of your trip, be sure that you follow the tips outlined above when it comes to security. When your home is secured and protected, you will enjoy more peace of mind while you’re away, ensuring you can fully kick back, relax and enjoy your travels.
