Guest Post: 10 Summer Vacation Tips on Burglar Proofing Your Home
Summer will officially be here in about three weeks. I can’t wait even though we’ll be staying home this summer. For those of you who are going on family vacations, now is a good time to plan ahead and burglar proof your home while you’re away.
There are many things you can do to burglar proof your home so you can enjoy and have a stress-free, worry-free vacation and be confident knowing your home is safe.
1. Mow your lawn and trim your hedges before you leave on vacation. If you’re gone for an extended time, have a neighbour or family member do your yard work.
2. If it’s possible, have a house sitter. This is one of the best ways to ensure your home is secure. If not, then leave a key with a trusted neighbor or with a family member.
3. Use light timers to turn on lights in the house and motion sensor lights outside your home. Also, have someone open and close your curtains or blinds.
4. You can temporarily halt newspaper and mail deliveries to your home. Have a neighbor pick up junk mail left on your door step.
5. Many home owners forget about the back of the house. Have the designated person who is taking care of your home take your trash bin to and from the curb.
6. Have a car park in the front of your house and at the back of your house.
7. If you have a sliding patio door, use a piece of wood like a hockey stick (minus the blade) in the sliding tract as added security. You can also do this with all sliding window tracts.
8. Clear your phone voice mail messages and turn down or turn off the ringer volume.
9. Even though it may seem harmless to shout out to the social media world you’re going on vacation, it’s not really a good idea. You’re basically telling everyone your home will be empty. If you inadvertently shout it out because of your excitement, quickly add Uncle George and Aunt Edith will be house sitting.
10. If you have a burglar alarm, have your house sitter or neighbor choose their own security code. You can delete it once you’re back from vacation. If you don’t have a burglar alarm, stick security alarm decals on your doors and windows as they are good deterrents.
Extra Tip: If you plan to hide a spare key outside your home, use your imagination and creativity. Don’t go for the obvious like under the door mat, but think along the lines of doing something like putting the key in a small ziploc baggy and burying it in the dirt of one of your potted planters.
Have a happy summer and enjoy your summer vacation!
Sophia McIntyre is an Internet Marketer, Article Marketer, Ghostwriter and founder of WorkAtHomeSpace.com, a free resource focusing on work at home companies and jobs, home businesses and other work at home related topics.
