Now that travel is back on the table for many people, it’s time to start planning your next vacation and getaway from your house for a while. However, before you do this, you’ll want to make sure that you leave your home in such a way that it will be just as you left it once you return from your trip.
To help you with this, here are three things to take care of at home before leaving on vacation.
Secure Your Garage
While you’re very likely to remember to lock all of the doors of your home before you head off on vacation, one area of your home that might not be as secure as you may think is your garage.
According to Dan Stout, a contributor to the Family Handyman, you should make sure that all of your outdoor equipment is put away into your garage, as many of these items are easy to walk off with and sell if there’s no one around to stop them. And once you have everything safe in your garage, be sure you secure your garage door by locking it or making it so that no one can just walk up and lift the door in order to gain entry into your garage or your home.
Stop Your Mail
As you prepare your home for your vacancy, you’ll want to think about what might be signs that no one is there. And once you know what these things are, you’ll want to combat that so it doesn’t obviously appear that no one is there.
To do this, Glenda Taylor, a contributor to BobVila.com, advises that you speak with your mail carrier and newspaper delivery service to stop having deliveries while you’re gone. This way, you won’t have newspapers piled up on your driveway or mail sticking out of your mailbox, which are all sure-fire signs that burglars look for that signify no one is home
Block Windows And Sliding Doors
In addition to locking your doors and windows, if you’re wanting some extra protection, Taylor Martin, a contributor to CNet.com, recommends that you check all of your windows and doors to ensure that they’re properly closed and that they are blocked off from being opened from the outside.
For windows and sliding doors, this can easily be done by sticking a piece of wood into the track so that it can’t be slid. Otherwise, your windows and sliding doors might be easy for someone to jimmy open and then gain access to your home.
If you’re going to be taking a vacation soon and won’t have someone staying at your house for you, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you secure your property and keep your home safe while you’re gone.
