Your vacation should be a time when you can relax and not worry about work or the safety of your home or belongings. There are simple things that you can do to increase your home’s security and safety while you are away. Homes can be damaged by external threats like robbers or internal threats like leaking water or a fire hazard. The following article lists action items that you can apply to increase your peace of mind while away from your home.
1. Get Homeowners or Renters Insurance
Although insurance will not prevent damage to your home, it will help you fix damages or repurchase items lost due to a robbery or accident. Most insurance plans are affordable and require very little maintenance, unlike your home!
2. Install Secondary Locks on All Your Windows
Most home invaders are looking for the easiest house to hit. Applying a secondary lock on your window can deter criminals from targeting your home. A simple way to apply a secondary lock is to cut wooden dowels to the correct length to fit in the channel in which your windows slide. Most home supply stores also sell metal clamps that can be placed in the window channels to lock the windows.
3. Verify That All Electrical or Gas-Powered Items are Disconnected or Off
Compete a walkthrough of your home right before you leave the house. Turn off all house and bathroom fans, and make sure to unplug electrical items like hair dryers, toasters, heaters, or computers. If left on, these items can easily overheat and start a fire.
4. Make Sure Water is Not Running Anywhere Indoors or Outdoors
Flooding inside or outside your home can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. Something as simple as a sink or outdoor hose left on could cause significant water damage. By simply inspecting your kitchens, bathrooms, washrooms, and your outdoor spigots, you can verify that not water is leaking or exiting the faucets or hoses.
5. Install a Motion Sensor Light Outside Your Home
Most criminals are scared off by even the smallest deterrent. A motion sensor light outside your back entrance and a porch light can quickly make a robber think twice of targeting your home.
6. Have a Friend or Neighbor Check in On Your Home
Most friends and neighbors are happy to check in on your home during your vacation. By so doing, he or she will quickly identify any hazards before they become bigger problems. Criminals will also think that your house is occupied.
