Whether you’re buying or selling a home, Labor Day is just around the corner, and if you’re going away to take advantage of the long weekend, make sure that nobody takes advantage of you while you’re gone. Before you go, make sure your home is protected with these five home safety tips.
1. Don’t let your mail pile up. There’s no more obvious indicator that a person is away than a full mailbox or a pile of newspapers outside the front door. Ask a neighbor to collect your mail for you. If you get the newspaper delivered, ask that it not be delivered while you’re away. These things are free and effective.
2. Get automatic timers for your lighting. A few strategically placed timers, particularly in rooms near the street, can make it appear as though someone is home. Adding timers to televisions or radios is also a good idea. Anything that makes it seem like there is activity in the house is an option.
3. Unplug and turn off appliances you don't need. At a minimum, you should unplug anything that might be able to cause a fire or a flood while you’re gone. To save a bit of money on your electric bill, unplug any appliances that do not absolutely need to be plugged in; many appliances still draw power, even when turned off.
4. Don’t discuss your trip on social media until you get back. You never know who might see your updates online, especially if your profiles are public, so it pays to be discreet. Your friends are dying to see all of the beautiful pictures from your trip, definitely, but it’s best to make them wait until you get home.
5. Lock it up. Make sure all doors and windows are locked, and if your home has an alarm system, make sure it's active. All it takes is one unlocked window and a thief will be able to easily enter your home. It’s also worth checking to see if your local police department offers some sort of vacation check-in service – many of them do. If this is not an option, ask a neighbor to check on it for you. Having someone keep an eye on your home will give you the peace of mind you need to really enjoy your vacation.
These are simple, common sense things, and you might feel like you don’t need to write them all out, but writing out a comprehensive checklist of things to do in order to get your home ready for your vacation will prevent that We Must Have Forgotten Something feeling, and allow your vacation to be a true vacation, without worry. Keep your procedure simple and save yourself a headache.
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Michael Dunsky Vice President of Mortgage LendingP: (508) 528-1800 F: (508) 749-7695Michael.Dunsky@guaranteedrate.com guaranteedrate.com/MichaelDunsky NMLS ID: 21372 38 Pond St, Ste 208 • Franklin, MA • 02038 NMLS ID 2611 |
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