Vacations are supposed to be a time of much-needed relaxation and peace of mind. But all of those good vibes can quickly disappear if something happens to your home while you’re away.
From break-ins to burst pipes, it’s important to know that your home is safe while you’re out of town so that you can vacation without worry. That’s why we teamed up with our friends at SimpliSafe, the award-winning DIY home security system, to show you how to keep your home safe while you’re on vacation.
Protecting your home when you're away
Double-check your doors and windows
This one might seem painfully obvious but in the rush to get out the door in time for your flight, it could be easy to miss. That’s probably why the majority of burglars break in through an already unlocked door or window.
To prevent this, do one last check of not just all doors and windows, but other forms of entry too. These can include pet doors, mail slots, and garage doors. Or consider installing a smart lock, such as the one used by SimpliSafe, that automatically locks the door when you leave.
And If your garage door uses an automatic opener, consider disabling it and using a physical lock instead. Some automatic garage openers can be activated by a universal remote, granting burglars easy access.
Keep your mailbox clear
An overflowing mailbox or packages piling up on the porch are a clear sign that no one is home.
Ask a friend or neighbor to stop by and retrieve any mail you receive. If you’d prefer to keep your mail private, the USPS makes it incredibly easy to hold your mail for up to 30 days. Just be sure to let them know before your vacation.
Remove your “hidden” keys
Your spare key hiding spot – under a false rock, in a potted plant, or under the doormat – might seem clever to you. But an experienced burglar is determined enough to check all of these in search of a spare key. Plus, they know all the common hiding spots.
Instead, give any spare keys to a trusted neighbor or loved one. If you have a home monitoring system, make sure you give a guest passcode to whoever may be entering your home.
Use social media carefully
It’s tempting to give your friends FOMO by posting all of your vacation details on social media. But while you're racking up those likes, you’re also announcing to your followers, and whoever else may be watching, that you’re out of town and your home is empty. Even if you think you’re just posting for friends and family, you never know who’s watching.
Be careful about checking into places on apps like Facebook – a common way to gain free wifi or other perks – or even posting a countdown to the date of your upcoming trip to Puerto Rico. There's nothing wrong with saving those posts for #throwbackthursday.
Lock your valuables in a safe
Instead of leaving your valuables out and hoping nothing happens, take the extra step and get a small safe where you can lock away your valuables in the event that a break-in occurs.
Plus, putting your things away in the safe ensures that you’ll remember to keep your valuables out of sight, removing the temptation for any would-be intruders.
Install timed and motion sensor lights
A house that’s always dark is another sure sign that nobody’s home.
Inside your home, set your lights to timers to give the illusion of someone being home at night. Outside, you can install either timed or motion sensor flood lights to discourage anyone from approaching your house.
Unplug appliances
Break-ins aren’t the only thing that you need to protect your home against while you’re on vacation.
Avoid electrical fires or power surges by unplugging any major electronics or appliances while you’re gone. This can include your TV, desktop computer, coffee machine, fans, lamps, etc.
Before you leave, make sure that your smoke alarm works and has fresh batteries or is connected to a power source. Smoke detectors from home security systems like SimpliSafe often add another layer of protection by notifying and dispatching the local fire department.
Prevent burst pipes
Damage from flooding and burst pipes can be incredibly costly.
To prevent burst pipes in the cold weather months, be sure to set your thermostat to a steady temperature and make sure that it has working batteries. You should also either have someone come by to regularly run the water or, if you really can’t find someone, leave a small amount of water running to keep your pipes from freezing.
For extra protection from damage, consider a security system that monitor's extreme temperatures in your home, such as SimpliSafe, whose temperature sensor triggers an alarm if your home gets too cold or too hot.
Get a home security system
Don’t just take a piecemeal approach to protecting your home while on vacation. Give yourself total peace of mind by installing SimpliSafe, the home security system that fully protects your home inside and out.
SimpliSafe is an arsenal of sensors and cameras that protect your home 24/7. Backed by professional monitoring, ready to call police, firefighters, and EMTs to your door in case of an emergency. All with no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and no installation costs.
Right now, Dollar Flight Club Members get 25% off any new system, a free camera, and 2 months of monitoring. Just click and sign up here!
