Hi,
Here’s another guest blog, Gary Ashton has some great common sense ideas on keeping your home safe when leaving. Personally, I always have a house/dog sitter when I travel, so much of his suggestions are mute for me. If you follow my blog, you may have noticed I mentioned that I never said anything about going to Florida in February on face book. My great neighbors all know when I leave and keep an eye on things, not to mention the cameras I’ve had installed and can access anywhere.
Tips for Keeping Your Home Secure While Traveling
Getting away from home for a needed vacation, a quick business trip, or for extended R&R can be relaxing or worrisome, depending on what you leave behind. Don’t jeopardize the pleasure of any getaway by assuming that all will be waiting for your return just the way you left it. Rather, make every effort to ensure that your home is safe, secure and ready for your return.
Use high-tech solutions to advantage. An interactive wireless home assistant will control temperature and lighting, as well as monitor other systems and alert authorities as needed. A security system that allows smart-phone monitoring from across the globe can be your best friend! Still, there is no substitute for old-fashioned common sense.
Alert your neighbors about your planned departure and return times, but don’t broadcast your schedule unnecessarily. If you have regular home services, be certain that you tell the service providers about an upcoming trip.
Be Wary of Social Media
Be overly judicious about how much you disclose on social media. It might be all right to mention an upcoming trip to an exciting destination, or announce a special occasion like a family wedding or graduation, but leave out the details about dates and trip duration. While traveling, be circumspect about the photos that you post, and postpone talking about most of the details until you are safely home.
Enlist Human Help
Try to maintain “normal activity” at home. Make arrangements to have the lawn watered and mowed, or the driveway plowed, and either have mail held at the post office or ask a neighbor, friend or family member to pick it up daily. Leave a key with a trusted ally. Arrange to have the home interior, garage and back yard checked on a regular basis, at least once or twice a week. If you leave a vehicle outside, it is also wise to have someone start it, and even move it, periodically.
Take Advantage of Neighborhood Watch
If your community has a neighborhood watch or uniformed security patrol, or if your city encourages it, inform the authorities about a scheduled absence and ask that they add your address to the watch list. Either put a hold on newspapers and other scheduled deliveries, or ask the person or service responsible for periodic home checks to remove papers, circulars and trash as needed.
Leave Your House Looking Used
Set blinds and shades in familiar positions. Install timers on lights in selected rooms, and vary the time of day that they’re on. Make the timing as realistic as possible, but try not to leave lights on in the evening in a room that’s visible from the street. It’s better to have a soft glow from an interior room than to showcase the emptiness. Do not leave a porch light burning for the duration of your trip. Ensure added security by installing motion-activated lighting at the entry, garage door and in the back yard: It’s a good idea even while you’re at home.
Trouble-Proof the Appliances
Unplug electrical cords to small appliances, “quiet” phones and answering machines, particularly if they have audible message-taking ability, and turn off electrical breakers to water heaters and kitchen appliances. Don’t unplug or turn off the power to a refrigerator, but do clean it out so that in case of a power failure the potential food loss (and the stench) will be minimal. Turn off the water to toilets, under sinks, and to automatic washer hoses. For extended absences, consider turning off the main water supply to the house.
Leaving home is always better when there is every expectation of returning to a house that is in exactly the condition it should be!
Gary Ashton is the CEO and owner of The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage. His real estate team is #1 in Tennessee, Nashville and now #4 in the world.
