Home Improvement

Preparing Your Home For A Vacation – You may spend a lot of time planning your vacation. You have researched the hotel, you find the best price on airline tickets, you arrange a rental car and you may even plan a schedule. There is one important detail that you may have forgotten. Do you plan for your home security while you’re away? Empty houses are magnets for thieves. If you want to make sure that everything is still in your home when you return, there are some steps to take.

Make Your Home Listen Live in

The most important thing you can do to keep your home safe is to make it look like you never left. Do not leave obvious signs that you are on vacation. Have a friend or neighbor came and took the newspaper, leaflet and door. Also leave a few lights in your home. No one said this house is empty from home without lights on. You can buy a timer that is relatively inexpensive today. Buy a timer and program the lights, TV and radio to come on at the usual time. Avoid leaving the answering machine message saying that you are on vacation. Also check your voice mail occasionally to keep from filling your mailbox. It will not be difficult for thieves to do a search back on your address and get your phone number. Lastly, if you plan to be away for a long time arrange for someone to cut your grass.

Make Your Home Secure physical

Make a thorough security sweep of your home. Check all windows, door locks and bolts. Do not assume that criminals can not enter the third story window. If you keep a spare key outside your house, do not leave them in obvious locations. Button located under flower pots, under door mats or even on inexpensive artificial rocks is not safe. Also make sure that you call your alarm company if you have one. Tell them you’ll be on vacation and gave them contact numbers for friends or neighbors.

Prepare To Be Robbed

No matter how many precautions you take, you can still be robbed. Prepare for the worst by making an inventory of all your valuables. This will really help when you need to settle with your insurance company. If you have a camcorder or can borrow one, take a video inventory. Save the tape in a safe place such as safe deposit box. If you have valuable items that big, etch your driver’s license numbers into it. This will make them easier to identify if they wind at a local pawn shop.

No one expects to be victims of crime, but it does happen. By taking a little time to protect your home, you can greatly reduce your chances of a victim or make it easier to recover from the robbery.

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