If your holiday plans include travel this year, these tips can help ensure your home is safe while you are away.
- Unplug hoses to washer and dryer machines. A burst pipe can pump water into your house for days before you return.
- Don’t leave lamps or lights on; instead use a timer with a random setting.
- Lock all windows and skylights.
- Have mail and newspapers stopped while you are away, or ask a neighbor to pick them up for you.
- Ask a friend or neighbor to shovel snow, if necessary.
- Save energy and help prevent fires by unplugging minor appliances such as coffee makers, toasters, and microwaves.
- Turn your phone’s ringer down or off; an unanswered phone tells burglars nobody’s home.
- If you keep a spare key hidden outside your home, bring it inside for the duration of your trip.
- Leave a number where you can be reached with a neighbor or friend who is watching your house.
If you can’t arrange for a house sitter, these steps will provide you with peace of mind while you are away, and will ensure a happy holiday continues after you return home.
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