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10 Ways to Keep Your House Safe While You’re Away

By
Real Estate Agent with Preferred Referrals LLC 150291

Looking forward to some fun in the sun this Summer? It pays to take a vacation and enjoy yourself, but you don't want to have worry lurking in the back of your mind during that cruise or trip about the safety of your home and possessions. Pay heed to these helpful tips when it comes to protecting your home.

10 Tips for Protecting Your Home During Vacations

protecting your home I hope you all have a safe and relaxing time during your vacation this summer. It’s crucial that we all have time to recharge and recognize what’s important in life. We only go around once, so it’s important to savor what we have.

Before you leave town, I thought you might be interested in a few precautionary safety tips to keep your home and your possessions safe while you’re gone. Protecting your home is often pushed to the back of our minds to avoid worry. Often in the run-up to a vacation, people neglect to take simple steps to protect themselves from becoming a victim of theft or vandalism.

You’ve probably covered your bases, but just in case, here are 10 basic precautions you can take for protecting your home before you leave on vacation:

  1. Have someone collect your mail and newspaper daily.
  2. Leave shades and blinds in normal positions.
  3. Put at least two lights and a radio on automatic timers.
  4. Have someone leave trash at your curb on garbage collection day.
  5. Have someone park a car in your driveway occasionally. If you leave your car outside, arrange to have it moved every so often.
  6. Leave a key with a trusted neighbor in case of an emergency. Let the neighbor know where you are going and when you are expect to return, also leave them a way to get in contact with you in case of an emergency.
  7. Lock all windows and doors before you go. Do not forget to double-check basement and garage doors.
  8. On extended trips have someone to maintain your landscaping, (grass mowed, leaves raked, etc.)
  9. Consider turning off your home’s water main to prevent damage from a burst pipe.
  10. Be careful how much you check-in on social media while on vacation. If your privacy settings are incorrect you might reveal to strangers your home is vacant!

Be safe and have a blast...

Valerie McEvoy | REMAX Preferred Properties | Oklahoma City Real Estate

Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

What a sad state of affairs but now part of our society in some places. Good post

May 31, 2015 11:31 PM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good Monday morning Valerie McEvoy -

You have provided excellent information on how to keep ones home safe while on vacation.  Sadly we have to worry about these things. 

May 31, 2015 11:34 PM
Valerie McEvoy
Preferred Referrals LLC - Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma Real Estate and Homes

Agreed! Hope all is well in Albuquerque!

Jun 05, 2015 02:26 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Hi,  Valerie

   I like #9.  It amazes me that people will go to Europe or somewhere across the Globe, and not cut off the water.   We had one here in Tallahassee recently where they lost some staggering amount of water when a washing machine hose broke... only when a neighbor called the City (or the police?) about the flooding coming out from under the front door did the City arrive and cut off the water.  They got billed for the water, plus imagine the damage to the house!

Jun 05, 2015 11:45 AM
Valerie McEvoy
Preferred Referrals LLC - Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma Real Estate and Homes

Fred, I'm going to mention your experience in a social media post as that really drives it home to take heed on shutting off the water! Thanks for that real life example!

 

Jun 06, 2015 03:29 AM