When you think of going on vacation your preparation usually involves researching where to bring the family, where to stay when you’re there and buying the tickets. This is all very important, obviously, but the preparation doesn’t just involve what you plan to do while on the vacation. There is also the preparation that needs to be done for the house to not cause you to worry while you are away.
It is hard for people to relax when they are on vacation if they feel there is something at home that is a loose end that can cause problems while they are away. To be prepared you just need to know a few things before you go. In this article, we will go over several of the things that you should do before you leave on vacation so your house is secure.
1 – Have your mail held
Thieves are always looking for signs that a house or apartment is an easy target. If they see that your mail is piling up then they understand right away that there is nobody home. This means that you are likely to get robbed. Even though your homeowner’s insurance and even the most affordable renter’s insurance will cover your belongings, it’s obviously better to make sure that your house is not robbed while you are away.
You should have your mail held from the post office while you are away. This way there will be no piles of mail stuffing your mailbox. This should be done at least a few weeks in advance so that there are no delays when it gets started.
If you are expecting packages then you will need a neighbor to be able to come by and collect them as they get delivered. You may even be able to forward their delivery to somebody you trust so that there isn’t a period of time when the packages are sitting in front of your house.
2 – Get a security system
Smart security systems are cheaper and easier to install than ever before. You can set up a motion-detecting camera around your property so you can see what is happening there in real-time. You will get alerts on your phone so you can tune in and see if there is an intruder even when on vacation.
There are even smart locks that you can install so you can open them remotely. If you have a dog walker then you don’t need to give them keys since you can let them in. This reduces the possibility of them letting people in who shouldn’t be there.
3 – Shut off utilities
To give yourself peace of mind that there isn’t an electrical surge that will damage your appliances or that a leaky pipe bursts and causes a flood. Make sure to turn off the electricity and water supply.
You should also unplug anything that has sensitive electronics in it because a surge can happen even when there is no electricity.
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