How to Protect Your Home During a Vacation | Smart Home Security

It is not fun returning home from a family vacation only to find that your house has been broken into. A Home Break-In can cost you hundreds of dollars and obviously cause tremendous stress if you take any precious keepsakes and valuables. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help prevent this while you are on a family adventure. Below is a list of tips to help!

This may sound strange but think about it. If you normally leave your curtains or shutters open, you may want to reconsider closing them completely. This new “closed-up look” makes your home scream “vacant.” Also, if an intruder were to gain access to your home, it provides them with visual protection as they maneuver through your house. The trick is making your home look active while you are away. This leads to the next tip!

You can keep your house looking active, no matter where you are, by setting timers for your smart lights, lamps, TV, and radios. An active-looking home is less inviting to burglars.

If you have a friend, family member, or close neighbor you can trust, ask them to regularly drop into your home to ensure that everything is OK. They can also bring in any packages that might be delivered while you are away. You definitely do not want packages piling up on the front porch…another sure sign that the homeowners are not in town!

If you are a 2-car family, or you are not using one of your cars for a trip, be sure to park a vehicle in your driveway while you are away. If you cannot leave your own car, consider asking a neighbor to use your driveway while you are away.

Posting pictures of you and your family enjoying a sunny beach hundreds of miles from home is an open invitation to a potential burglar or those who intend to do you no good. In general, keep your trip plans to yourself or only share with others as needed.

This may seem obvious, but it doesn’t hurt to take extra measures if you will be away for an extended period of time. Investing in a home safe offers an extra layer of security that can provide great peace of mind. A fire-proof safe is also great for storing pictures and important documents on a regular basis.

Have your cleaning service continue coming while you are away. House cleaners, gardeners, and even a pool company should all still arrive as per their regular schedule, even if you aren’t there.

Do not leave your GPS on easily visible in your car at an extended stay airport parking lot. If someone were to break in and steal your car, they have a road map to your empty home. You may also want to password-protect or reset your home setting to a public address like a shopping mall or park. If you have a portable GPS, don’t leave it in the car while you are traveling.

To provide even more of a challenge to a burglar while you are away, consider investing in a wireless home security system equipped with motion sensors, cameras, and door, window sensors, smart doorbells, and door locks that can be operated remotely, and 24-hour monitoring to alert the proper authorities in the event of a break-in, or even smoke/fire/water detection. Modern home security technology can be customized to your needs and offer peace of mind that is priceless. Contact one of our security experts today for a free quote!