Vacation means relaxation. It means getting away from the stress of everyday life and finding bliss in some luxurious hotel suite, or in some exotic country with delicious eats. Vacation means taking a break from your normal life-it's a time out from computers, spreadsheets, angry customers and office coffee. However, even if your mind may already be floating in clouds of delight just thinking about your next vacation, before you check out, don't forget to take these ten steps to insure your home security. After all, when you're away, thieves and home disasters are the last things you want to stress about.
1. Inform your good neighbors that you shall be away; ask them to keep an eye out on your house. Caveat: Don't tell too many people your plans, remember loose lips sink ships. One offhand comment could lead to calamity, so don't be a blabbermouth. Just let one or two neighbors that you are on good terms with know what's up.
2. Suspend your mail and newspaper delivery, or have that trusty neighbor collect everything so it doesn't gather on your doorstep. A pile of mail is a sure sign that your house is ripe for breaking in and entering.
3. Make your house look alive. Pull the 'I'm not at home, but it looks like I am' trick by setting up light timers. You may even consider plugging your TV and radio into a timer as well. Install motion detection lights. This little maneuver works as a great ersatz home alarm.
4. Lock your doors. Make sure that they are locked. Turn off and unplug your appliances. Turn off gas and water to avoid any unfortunate floods or gas leaks. Close windows. Lock the garage. Double check everything.
5. Put all your valuables in a safe deposit box. Or place them in some obscure hiding place. Make sure you document all your goods too, just in case. You can never have enough security measures in place, after all.
6. Turn your phone ringer off and don't change your answering machine message to announce your vacation plans. Leave a friend or neighbor with an emergency contact number.
7. Have your good old neighbor place your garbage cans on the curb on pickup days, and have them return them after the garbage has been picked up. Also, have your neighbor park in your driveway to enhance that lived in look.
8. Invest in high quality deadbolt locks for all your doors.
9. You should also probably call your home security company and tell them that you will be away. Or if you don't have a home security system, consider getting one. They are pretty effective as thieves will usually look for homes with easy access. A home alarm is definitely a deterrent. Put up security system decals and logos too.
10. Ask a friend to mow the lawn if you're going to be away for a long period of time and give them keys to the house so they can make sure everything is in order.
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