Home Security Vacation Tips

Throughout the year singles, couples, and families alike enjoy taking time off to go away on a vacation.  Having that time to escape from busy schedules is important for a person’s health and well-being. 

However, some people can find it difficult to fully relax while they are away on holidays.  The thought of their home being broken into or the image of a flooded basement comes to them late at night.  The following are a few useful tips for what you can do to help you enjoy your holiday to its fullest and leave your home knowing everything is safe and sound.

Mail Pick Up:

Have a neighbour pick up your mail and have your newspaper company extend the delivery until your return.  A build up of mail in the mailbox is a clear sign to potential intruders that your home is unoccupied.

Interior and Exterior Lighting:

Set up a few lamps in your home on automatic timers during the times you would usually be home.  Have your exterior lights set up either on automatic timers, light and/or motion sensors.

Security System:

Keep your monitoring company for your security system up-to-date as to when you are going to be away.   Provide them with alternate contact information for yourself, neighbours or whoever you would like to have contacted in case of an emergency.  Most security systems have additional equipment that can monitor for more than just intrusion such as smoke/fire, flood and extreme temperature changes.  Any of these devices provide you with one less thing to worry about.

Inform a Neighbour:

Let a trusted neighbour know when you are going to be away.  If they can, have them take some garbage over to your garbage cans or park in your driveway while you are gone.  Depending on how long you are away, you may want to also have them either shovel your snow or mow your grass.

Lock Doors and Windows:

Before leaving on your holiday do one last check around the house to make sure front, back and the door leading to the basement are locked.  Check all windows (upstairs and down) to make sure they are fully locked.

These are just a few small tips that will help keep your home safe and sound when you’re enjoying your vacation get-a-way.