Before You Go on a Vacation, Secure Your Home First

On the way to your vacation destination, you suddenly remember that you forgot to turn off the gas stove and you left your refrigerator running! You can avoid this panicky scenario if you take note of how to safely leave your house when you go for a trip.

Other than securing your home from internal accidents, you should also protect it from possible burglars since vacant houses do look so inviting to thieves. You can request your newspaper and mail delivery services to be stopped while you are gone. Get in touch with your post office and newspaper distributor to inform them of your travel and ask them to continue deliveries when you get back. If you have pets, you can request a relative, neighbour, or pet sitter to come in to feed and groom your animals. Another option is to check them into a kennel where they can be cared for by responsible people 24/7. You might also want to request someone to water your plants.

For your security, having a trusted alarm system is an advantage. It is strongly recommended that you use automatic light timers with your television or radio to make your home look like it is lived in. Set the timers to various hours every day to avoid rousing the suspicion of burglars watching your property. In addition, you can contact your local police station and inform them of your absence. Finally, you might want to leave an extra key with a trusted relative or neighbour, together with your contact details while holidaying.