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Invest in a light switch timer.
Don’t leave your lights on at home during your entire vacation in an effort to make it look like someone is in your house. One of the best ways to keep burglars away from your home is with a light switch timer. Time the lights to turn on when it is dark and turn off around your usual bedtime. The lights turning on and off will make it seem like a human is doing the flipping, not the timer.
Tell a trustworthy neighbor or friend.
The best way to gain peace of mind when you’re away from your home for the week is to tell a neighbor or friend. Entice them with some fresh baked goods or a souvenir from your trip, and ask them to drive by your home every other day to check up on your house. You can even ask them to bring in your mail or water your plants too.
Remove your spare key.
Remove your spare key from the flower pot or from underneath your doormat. Chances are your spare key hiding spot is the same as half the people on your street, and you don’t want any robbers finding it when you are away. Instead, leave your spare key with your neighbor in the case of an emergency.
Adjust the thermostat.
Why do you need a cool apartment or house when you’re away? Turn off the air conditioning while you’re gone, and you’ll be surprised how much you’ll save on your utilities bill!
Unplug electronics and small kitchen appliances.
Unplug your TV, laptop, coffee maker, toaster, KitchenAid, etc. According to the Consumer Energy Center, many appliances still use energy even when they’re turned off or not in use. This is yet another way you can cut the cost of your bills this month. See the article about energy using electronics on page 7 of this newsletter.
Be smart on social media.
You’re leaving on vacation and you’re excited, but that doesn’t mean you need to tell the entire world via social media. Avoid announcing when you’re leaving, how long you’ll be gone, where you’re going etc. You may think only your Facebook friends have access to your account, but in all reality anything posted online can be found. Be smart and don’t post anything that would entice criminals to pay your home a visit while you’re away.
Take valuables out of your vehicle.
If you’re going on a road trip, you don’t need to worry about this tip. However, if you aren’t taking one or both of your vehicles with you on vacation, make sure to remove any valuable items from your vehicle, including custom radios or speakers.
Keep your curtains open.
This may seem odd, but closed curtains or blinds for an entire week can call attention to your home, especially to criminals. If you keep your curtains open the majority of the time when you are home, then leave them open when you’re away. Make sure to move expensive items from plain site if they are visible from the window.
Lock up.
It is the most obvious thing on the list, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to lock all of their doors and windows when they’re away. One of the most common places that people forget to lock up are the back door, balcony doors, or doors from the house to garages.
Tidy up.
It’s always nice to come back to a clean home. Make it a team effort and clean up your entire house or apartment before you leave for your summer getaway. You’ll appreciate it when you return back from your vacation!
Source: http://www.triangleinsurance.com/10-things-to-do-before-your-independence-day-vacation/
