No vacationing homeowner wants to
arrive back to find their house was not as they left it. Here are some very
simple tips you can do to reduce the
risk of something happening while you are away.
Cut off the water while you are out of town. there has been more than one
incident where a home owner has left and returned to a flooded home. Hot water
heaters, Dishwashers & broken pipes in your washing machine are common ways
in which water can be discharged onto your floor. Tip 1, turn your water off. Tip
2, make sure your hot water heater is also turn off so the heating element
does not burn up with no water in the tank.
Some things should just not be
posted on Social Media. Almost everyone is on social media these
days. Social Media has made it normal for people to
communicate instantaneously with one another to the point it is expected that
we constantly post every detail about our lives to the world. What we suggest you be mindful of
is what you are posting. Depending on your account settings, often times many
people can see your posts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. If you are
leaving town for the week and posting about it, you could be setting yourself
up for the wrong person finding out, doing further research and breaking into
your home. Thief's of all types are searching Facebook and
Twitter for people away from their homes on vacation. It happens. Every day. Tip 3, don’t post to social media that
you will be gone. Tip 4, hold on
posting photos from your vacation until you get home. IT does not take a genius
to figure out that if you live in Florida you could not possibly be skiing close to home.
Make sure you leave your
vacation dates and emergency contact number with the local police. Always
notify the police if you're going on vacation. No need to let the cops know
about a weekend getaway, but do call them if you're leaving town for longer
than a week. Often times
the police may go out of their way to drive by your house when on patrol. The
increased presence in your neighborhood will be a benefit not only to you, but
to your neighbors. If you have a security alarm, leave a house key and
the code with someone you trust, and provide the police and alarm company with
their name and phone number. You may also want to contact your local
neighborhood watch program if there's one in your area. Tip 5, let the police know you are gone. Tip 6, ask a friend to help.
Pay attention to the obvious. Stop your mail. If you typically receive a lot of mail
remember that nothing says, “I’m Not Home,” like a mailbox that is packed full.
In addition to creating an enticing way for someone to steal your identity by
taking your mail, it also indicates that no one is home. Curtains closed or
open? Leave them as you usually keep them as noticeable changes could hint that
you're not around. What about lighting? Purchase
a light switch timer that can turn your lights on and off automatically
according to a programmed schedule. Criminals keeping an eye on your house will
notice lights flipping on and off, and will probably assume someone is doing
the flipping. Unplug your non essential appliances and devices. Unplug your
television, computer, toaster oven and other appliances to protect them from
power surges. Do this to save power as well. Tip 7, stop your mail. Tip 8
Leave your curtains the way you always do. Tip
9 - Buy a light switch timer, Tip 10
Unplug!
On a final note, please remember to remove your spare key from
under the mat or rock or above the doorway, even the flowerpot is not a safe
place to hide a key that would give an intruder easy access.
We hope these tips enable you to have some peace of mind while you
are away on your next vacation!
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