How to Secure Your Home While on Vacation

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While you and your family are away on vacation, the last thing you want to do is worry about what’s going on back at home. The best way to eliminate any concerns about the safety of your house while you are away on a trip is to take measures to secure your home before you leave. 

Securing your home before you go out of town involves addressing the possibility of a break-in and taking simple steps to keep your home from being targeted. Consider these top six tips on how to secure your home while on vacation. 

1. Install Professionally Monitored Home Security System

The number one tip in securing your home is to have a professionally monitored home security system installed. These systems include sensors on your doors and windows that will sound or send you an alert when they sense movement. If there is a break-in, the sensors sound an alarm, and the monitoring company contacts you as well as the authorities. 

Although a professionally monitored home system is the best way to go, there are other options for motoring your windows and doors. Invest in quality door alarms that are easy to self-install as an added protection when you leave your home to go on vacation. 

Door Alarms Protect Your Home from Intruders

2. Install Outdoor Security Lights

A great tip to keep your home secure is to install outdoor security lights. Many outdoor security lights have a motion sensor and switch on the lights when they sense movement, while others are programmed to stay on all night long. Whichever kind of outdoor security light you have, the light deters burglars from entering your home because they prefer to break into entrances cloaked in darkness. 

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3. Install a Video Doorbell

Video doorbells are wonderful tools for securing your home before a trip out of town. These doorbells alert your smartphone every time a person is on your doorstep, so you get to see who is on your property. A video doorbell allows you to capture the image of any unexpected people who come to your door. Most video doorbells allow you to speak to the person at your door as if you were standing right inside your house. 

Choosing a Smart-enabled model ensures any visitor’s images are sent to your phone, so you can see who is at your house while you are away. 

4. Install Security Cameras

Installing security cameras, both inside and outside your home, is a great way to monitor your house while away. Outdoor cameras capture activity from your home’s vulnerable outside locations, while in-home security cameras are useful for viewing your home’s interior. With well-disguised wireless hidden cameras for home, you see activity in your house that can be used as evidence in a burglary case. Many home intruders may also avoid targeting your home if they see security cameras mounted in highly visible locations. 

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5. Monitor Your Home Environment 

The home environment is one of the most overlooked areas when it comes to preparing your home for your absence. The environment refers to the state of your home internally, such as electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems. When something goes wrong while you are at home, you take care of it right away, but, if you are on vacation when a pipe bursts, the water damage may cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. Invest in a home system that includes environmental sensors that detect moisture level changes and notify you if your home is in danger.

You can also subscribe to a home monitoring service through your home security system that will alert the police or fire department if it senses smoke or extreme temperature fluctuations and suspects a fire. This ensures your home is in good condition when you return.

Utilize Wireless Hidden Cameras for Home to Monitor Your House While Away

6. Take Simple Precautions Before Leaving

Keeping your home safe while on vacation means knowing how to prevent home invasion with simple precautions. Make sure to remove spare keys you’ve hidden in planters or under welcome mats, double-check you lock all windows and doors before you leave, and store your valuables out of sight in a safe or lockable cabinet. 

Avoid telegraphing that your house is empty by holding your mail at the post office and asking a friend or to check on your home. Avoid announcing your vacation on social media or posting pictures while away. 

Make Plans to Protect Your Home

Protecting your home before you leave for vacation is essential to your peace of mind while away. Before you start packing, make a plan to protect your home. Implement these tips on how to secure your home while on vacation so you can relax and enjoy your time away from home. 

FAQs

1. If I see someone suspicious at my front door, should I call the authorities?

Not right away. If you see someone suspicious, take note of the incident and continue to monitor the situation. If they return or you notice anything else out of place, you may choose to call the authorities. 

2. Where should I place outdoor security cameras?

Your outdoor security cameras should cover vulnerable areas, such as the front and back porches, garage, and basement or ground-level windows. 

3. Is there a way to prevent my pipes from freezing and bursting in the winter?

Yes. Set your thermostat to at least 55°F and turn off your water system. Also, ask a friend to check on your home to ensure the temperature inside remains above freezing.