A Traveler’s Guide to Keeping Your Home Safe While You’re on Vacation

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The FBI’s crime clock states that a burglary happens every 20 seconds in America. A property crime occurs every 3.9 seconds.

Leaving your job and responsibilities to go on vacation is stressful enough. Now you also have to worry about your home’s security while you’re gone.

Luckily, home security doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. There are plenty of easy home safety tips that’ll leave you feeling confident in your home’s security.

Enjoy your vacation away and come back to your home exactly as you left it. Keep reading for 10 security tips you need to know before you pack your bags.

1. Build Relationships with Your Neighbors

The best people to keep an eye on your house while you’re gone are your neighbors. They see your home every morning when they leave for work, and every evening when they get home.

Try to build relationships with your neighbors so you can trust them to look out for you. Tell them when you’ll be going on vacation. Ask if they can park their car in your driveway whenever they’re home to make it seem like someone’s in the house.

In return, offer to do the same for them. One of the most valuable aspects of living in a subdivision is the community. Lean on your neighbors to keep an eye on your home.

2. To Leave the Lights On or Not

There are many opinions on whether to leave your lights on in your house while away. On one hand, they make it seem like people are present in the house. On the other, aren’t most burglars aware of this sneaky trick?

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You will need some extra tools to use this home security tip well. You don’t want every light in the house turning on at the same time each day. That’s a sure sign to burglars that you aren’t home.

Invest in light timers and motion detectors. Set the timers on the lights in different rooms for different days and times. Use motion detectors on your outdoor lighting which will get triggered by approaching visitors.

3. Talk to Your Local Police Department

Each neighborhood has its own crime statistics and concerns. The people who know your neighborhood best are your local police officers.

Head over to the police department or call the office. Let them know you’ll be away and ask if they can drive by your home.

They may also give you some home security tips specific to your area. If anyone knows about breaking and entering, it’s these people.

4. Use a Home Security System

Your last line of defense against burglars is your home security system. When it detects a broken window or opened door, it alerts you. You can also have it alert the police in some situations.

The great thing about these systems, like LifeShield, is that you can watch live footage of your house. Even if you’re on the other side of the world, you can see your home on your laptop or phone.

Use this tool to check that the light timers are working and that everything looks normal. You can even see when mail gets dropped off and ask someone to pick it up for you.

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5. Hire a House Sitter

You don’t have to leave your home empty while on vacation. Consider having someone stay in your house while you’re gone.

Ask a friend or family member to move in, or one of their adult children. They’ll be responsible for taking in the mail and taking out the garbage. And, of course, showing that there’s someone present in the house.

You could also hire a sitter through websites like Mind My House. These people have training and experience house sitting.

6. Lock Up Your Valuables

Every home should have a highly secured safe. This is where you can store jewelry, devices, and cash while you’re away.

Even if you put every security precaution in place, there’s still a chance of a break-in. Prevent your valuables from getting stolen by locking them in a hidden safe.

Consider keeping the safe in an obscure and non-obvious place. For example, the furnace room or the oven drawer.

7. Don’t Share Pics Until You’re Home

Social media is an awesome channel to show your friends and family how your vacation is going. We all love to post pictures of our hotels, the epic scenery, and what we’re doing.

But, social media isn’t private. Even if you set your profile to private, there are ways for hackers to get in.

Don’t post any vacation statuses or pictures until you’re back. Burglars can find out your house is empty from your real-time social media updates.

8. Maintain the Yard

Going on a long-term vacation? Nothing says “no one’s home” like overgrown grass and unshoveled driveways.

Make sure you hire someone to maintain your yard while you’re away. Even though you aren’t there to enjoy it, it makes the house look lived-in.

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Hire a landscaping business or a child of your friend or family member. You don’t have to pay a lot for this extra security tip.

9. Move the Spare Key

Where do you hide your spare key? For most, it’s above the door frame, in the flower pot, or under the ceramic turtle.

These are all obvious spots that a criminal will check.

Instead of risking this massive mistake, remove the key from its hiding place. Give it to someone you trust or the person checking on your house.

10. Disconnect Your Garage Door

It’s no surprise that garage doors can get hacked and broken into. Even the strongest password on the pin pad can get solved.

The best way to nip this problem in the bud is by disconnecting your garage door. Unless you have someone house sitting and using the garage, you don’t need it to be working. Simply turn off the digital opener or call your garage door installer for help.

Ready to Use These Home Safety Tips?

When you’re lounging on the beach in Barbados, the last thing you want to worry about is your house.

By putting all these home safety tips in place, you can forget the stress. Your home will remain safe and secure, so finish your margarita and enjoy the sun.

The tips listed above are just some of the many travel hacks on Luxury Travel Guides. Check out the rest of the blog for more travel tips and vacation hacks!