5 Expert Tips to Secure Your Home During Holiday Travel
With the holiday season upon us, many families are planning exciting vacations to see loved ones and leave the stress of daily life behind. When it comes time to hit the road, it’s important to take proper precautions before locking up and leaving for your destination.
Thinking ahead and putting these expert security measures in place will allow you extra peace of mind so you can enjoy your well deserved time away. Let’s take a look!
Boost Your Home Security Tech
In today’s world, we have a plethora of options to secure our home, even while on a budget. Install automatic outdoor lights to ward off anyone passing through your property. Inside the home, try installing smart lights you can control from your phone. While you’re away, you’ll be able to turn lights on and off, giving the illusion that you’re at home. Another popular tech option is to utilize a video doorbell. You can access live video footage right from your phone, and be alerted whenever someone comes to your door.
Enlist neighbors
If you have neighbors closeby, asking them to keep an eye on things or to drop in every few days is a great way to keep your mind at ease while enjoying your vacation. Your neighbors can check back doors, windows, and will be able to alert you to anything questionable happening on your property. It can also be helpful to give neighbors access to a spare key if they need to tend to anything inside the home or give things a closer inspection.
Leave your car in the driveway
A simple, but very effective method to make your home appear occupied is to leave a vehicle in the driveway. If your car won’t be in use during your vacation, leaving it in the driveway is a proven way to deter criminal activity, as it gives the impression your family is home. If your car will be utilized during holiday travel, it might be worth it to ask your neighbor to leave their car in your driveway, instead.
Property Upkeep
Live in a snowy area? If you’re away during the holidays, leaving your driveway is full of snow, criminals will easily be able to detect the home is unoccupied. Enlist the help of a snow removal company to keep your driveway cleared, which also makes things a bit easier upon your return.
No snow? Make sure the lawn is mowed regularly while you’re away. Overgrown, unkempt properties give the illusion that property owners are away. Keeping your home cared for is an easy way to deter prospective burglars.
Put a Pause on Social Media
For many, social media has become part of our daily lives. But when it comes to taking vacations, security experts agree it’s never a good idea to share the details of your trip online. This can immediately alert people close to you, as well as perfect strangers that your home will remain unoccupied for an extended period of time.
Instead, of posting on social media during your trip, wait until you return home safely. Experts have shown social media posts are largely responsible for break-ins during the holiday season. This simple tactic can save you from a very stressful situation.
