With Halloween in the rear view mirror, the holiday season is upon us. People have begun making their holiday travel plans. Where some escape for a few short days for Thanksgiving or take advantage of the holidays and take a month to visit family and places for a long retreat, their homes are left vulnerable. With that in mind, we at Texan Lock and Key would like to share a few tips and suggestions to better protect your home in your absence.
Preparing House for Extended Vacation
1) Plan for Newspapers, Flyers, Mail. If you are going to be away for more than a week or so, you can call the post office to have them hold your mail for up to 30 days free of charge in most cases. In the event you have a newspaper subscription, or community paper, or other such deliveries coming to your home frequently, put a hold on your account or have a trusted neighbor collect it for you. More people are stopping off business cards, menus, and other such advertising on doors as well that is better kept maintained. Leaving evidence as to your absence can get your home targeted for a break in.
2) House Sitter and Backup Neighbor. An ideal solution to keeping your home watched over is having a house sitter. A relative or friend staying in your home will avoid the tell tale signs someone isn’t home if any scrupulous characters are looking for vacationers to leave a home unattended. Plants, pets, and other such routine care will also be taken care of. In addition to having a house sitter, or not, having a neighbor that will frequently keep an eye on your home can help avert being victimized as well. Just remind them if you are having a house sitter or a family member coming in and out to take care of responsibilities that they are there so the police do not have to deal with any confusion.
3) Don’t Post When You’ll Be Away on Social Networks. With the different social media platforms, many people belong to one or multiple social networks where we share our lives. There are too many holes in the system and the last thing you should do is broadcast your vacation plans to the world. Keep the people who do know to a minimum and only people that you trust.
4) Illusion Someone is Home. If you do not have someone staying at your home while you are gone, but only checking in, you will want to create the illusion someone is home. Consider installing automatic timers that turn on specified lights and motion censored lighting on the exterior of your home. The busier you can make your house look, the less likely someone will target your home. Make sure your thermostats are programmed correctly, especially if you are leaving pets in the home. Unplug unnecessary electronics to reduce the power bill and electrical fires.
5) Maintain Landscape Before You Leave. Make sure your landscape is well manicured before your departure. Get the trees pruned, leaves raked, bushes and grass trimmed, and consider ambient lighting around the plants. Not only will a well kept landscape continue the illusion you are home, but it will offer fewer places for a villain to slip into your home and alert the watchful neighbor someone is there that doesn’t belong.
6) Locks and Security. Make a thorough sweep of your home and check to make sure all doors and windows are locked. Consider inquiring with a professional about installing higher quality and graded locks on the door to hinder break-ins. Finally, if you do not have a security system, get one installed to help keep your home and valuables safe.
Locksmith Services in KILLEEN, AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO, ROUND ROCK, SAN MARCOS, FRISCO, NEW BRAUNFELS & HOUSTON TEXAS
If you are in need of better locks before you head out of town, call in the professionals of Texan Lock and Key for lock replacing and we will help keep your home safe.
