How to Protect Your Home During Extended Vacations
Protecting your home during extended vacations is a must for any homeowner. Whether you are in Ireland or any other part of the world, these ten steps below will give peace of mind when leaving your home for an extended period.
1. **Lock Up Securely:** Ensure all doors and windows are securely locked. This may seem like a given, but overlooked windows or doors can serve as an invitation to burglars. If there’s an alarm system, ensure it’s properly set, too.
2. **Hold Mail Service:** Overflowing mailboxes signal that your home is unattended. Contact An Post to have them hold your mail during your vacation period. You can choose a date for it to be delivered when you return.
3. **Use Timed Lights:** This is a great way to give the illusion of someone at home. Intelligent lighting systems can be programmed to come on at varying schedules to mimic typical usage patterns.
4. **Ask Neighbours for Help:** Inform trusted neighbours or friends about your vacation. Ask them to keep an eye on your place, collect your post, put bins out on collection day, and report any suspicious activities.
5. **Create a List of Emergency Contacts:** Compiling a list of contacts, like a trusted neighbour or a family member, to share with your security company, if you have one, makes it possible for them to respond effectively to any incidents.
6. **Disconnect Electronics**: Unplug unnecessary electronics to prevent potential electrical fires and save electricity. This includes computers, TVs, microwaves, toasters, etc.
7. **Secure Valuables:** Keep valuables in a safe or a lockable closet or hide them well. Important documents, cash or jewelries should not be out in the open.
8. **Don’t Broadcast Your Absence:** Avoid mentioning your vacation details on social media platforms. This prevents word from reaching potential criminals.
9. **Install Security Cameras:** With modern technology, homeowners can monitor their properties remotely using security cameras. If a break-in were to happen, footage can be provided to law enforcement as evidence.
10. **Consider a Home Security Review:** A local security company could offer a review of your home. They can provide advice about any vulnerabilities your home might have and suggest improvements.
Remember, the protection of your home shouldn’t only occur when planning a vacation. It should be an integral part of homeownership. Preemptive measures strengthen your home’s defence, not just when you’re away, but every day. Surely, certain steps may take time and effort to implement, but the peace of mind knowing your home is safe outweighs the initial hassle.
Repeated practice of these steps will make it a routine, and the process will become streamlined over time. With these precautions in place, you can truly relax and enjoy your holidays, returning to find your haven in the same condition as you left it. These measures shield your abode from potential invasions, keeping not just your home, but also the precious memories it holds, protected.