Getting ready for a vacation can be very stressful. There is a lot to do and organize for those few days of relaxation in a new place.
Aside from packing and quadruple-checking luggage, there are things to be done around the house before leaving. Make a check list so nothing is forgotten. Double check it before leaving.
According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the first thing is to make the home as safe as possible.
1) Set timers on interior lights. Criminals look for easy targets. Use a timer on a few lights to make it appear someone is home. Don’t let newspapers or mail pile up. Make sure valuables aren’t visible to someone looking through windows, and don’t leave a key outside.
2) Don’t post on social media. It’s wise not to post online that you’re away. It isn’t just friends and family who can see social media updates. The majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby and most criminals can burglarize a home in less than ten minutes. Posting vacation plans on social media networks could result in an untrustworthy individual being made aware that the home will be unoccupied for an extended period of time.
3) Lock doors and windows.
4) Unplug TVs and computers. It’s Texas - an electrical storm could cause a power surge. To protect expensive electronics, unplug them or plug them into a surge protector.
5) Turn off the main water supply to the home. Even a minor leak can cause major damage if no one is home to catch it.
A few other general tips to attend to include:
-Clean - The last thing most people want to come home to is dirty home. After a long day of travel, a dirty house can rip a person right out of relaxation mode. It's also to help prevent things from going awry, such as fruit flies taking over while away. Scrub the sinks and toilets, vacuum and toss or eat any fruits sitting out.
Also, clean out the refrigerator. Freeze, eat or toss anything that will spoil while gone away. No one want to come to a fridge full of rotten, stinky foods.
Taking out the trash is part of cleaning. Take it out or run the risk of coming home to all sorts of rancid smells and pests galore.
While frantically running around packing and cleaning the house, it's easy to forget the obvious things – like that load of laundry. Check the washer and dryer. Coming to a full load of laundry that has had a week to sit and sour is less than ideal, to say the least.
-Electronics - Before leaving, make sure to unplug electronics around the house that do not need power while away. Not only will it save on the energy bill, it will lower the risk of an electrical fire. This may include things like routers, televisions, computers or unused chargers.
-Thermostats - Another way to save on energy while on vacation is setting the thermostat to an away program. Many newer thermostats — especially smart ones — offer a feature like this that will adjust the temperature setting when you're not home. In the summer, it will raise the temperature for cooling, and in the winter, it will lower the temperature for heating.
-Lights - To deter break-in, put lights around the house on timers. Analog timers can be used or the smart bulbs that can be put on a different schedule each day.
Taking it one step further, putting an entire smart home on vacation is an option. The TV or radio could be put on a schedule to run a few hours a day as well as lights.
-Mail - An additional security measure is putting the mail on hold at the post office to prevent it from piling up or ask a friend or neighbor to stop by and pick up the mail every day.
-Lawn care. If gone for more than a week, the lawn or garden may need attention. An unkept yard is a sign that the resident may not be home.
-Leave a car (locked) in the driveway. Burglars have reported that a vehicle in the driveway is major deterrent. If a one-car family, see if a neighbor wants to park there.
-Right before leaving, check all the possible entry points around the home. Make sure there aren’t any seldomused doors or windows unlocked or cracked open. It's easy to forget about a side door that rarely gets used.
Other suggestions for general security include having the presence of a security system. Sixty percent of convicted burglars stated the presence of security system influenced their decision to target another home. Monitored systems are available and the wallet doesn’t have to have a hit. Make sure yard signs and window stickers are in place to ward off criminals.
Sadly, the majority of break-ins are committed by burglars who live nearby, and most criminals can burglarize a home in less than ten minutes so be careful who is told online. Keep that info private. Posting your vacation plans on social media networks could result in an untrustworthy individual being made aware the home will be unoccupied for an extended period.
Summer vacations may be fun, but they can also be costly if not careful about leaving a home protected. Be it a breakin, fire or water leak – no one wants to return home to a problem.