If you’re traveling during the holiday season, the last thing you need to stress over is your home’s safety. More likely than not, you are already anxious enough with tasks such as shopping and packing for your trip.
However, it’s always a good idea for you to take a “better safe than sorry” approach as you prepare for your trip. It's especially important during the holiday season when we may unwittingly end up letting our guard down a little more than we should. Taking precautions prior to your vacation will ensure you can relax and enjoy yourself, rather than obsessing over your property and belongings the entire time you’re away.
Here are a few ideas for keeping your home safe when you’re away during the holidays:
- Consider hiring a house-sitter, or ask a neighbor or someone you trust who can check in on your house, collect your mail, water plants, etc. If you have pets, a pet-sitter often bundles these tasks into their pet sitting agreements.
- Have your post office hold your mail until you return from your vacation. This free feature offered by the United States Post Office allows you to stop delivery for up to thirty days. If you have newspapers delivered, you’ll want to contact them as well and have them pause deliveries until you return.
- Investing in timers which connect to your interior lights can go a long way towards making your house look lived in. Set the timers to the times you would normally turn lights on and off. If you are putting up lights outside your home, you may consider an outdoor timer for them as well.
- Don’t forget to lock all the doors and windows of your home before you leave. If you have a burglar alarm/security system, make sure to engage it when you’re leaving. If someone is checking on your house and/or pets, don’t forget to provide them with the code.
- Be extremely cautious about sharing your travel plans or related information about your vacation online. Ensure your older children who use social media do the same.
- Disconnect the power from your major electronics, such as computers, televisions, DVD/Blu-ray players, and stereos. You may also wish to disconnect kitchen appliances such as coffee makers and toaster ovens. Doing so will not only potentially help you save money on your electric bill, but can also reduce fire risks.
Source: How Stuff Works
By taking a few extra precautions up front can help ensure you have a fun and less stressful vacation -- and a safe and secure home when you return.