Traveling can be incredibly exciting. Whether you’re going on a long-awaited dream vacation or a work trip, there’s nothing quite like packing your bags and hitting the open road. However, before you jet off to your next destination, it’s important to take some time to secure and prepare your home. After all, the last thing you want is to come home to a mess or, even worse, find that your home has been broken into.
This blog post will provide a few tips on securing and preparing your home before traveling. With a little planning, you can rest assured knowing that your home is safe and sound while you’re away.
1. Let Someone You Trust Know That You’ll Be Away
If possible, let a trusted neighbor or family member know that you’ll be out of town. This way, if anything does happen, someone will be there to take care of it. In addition, it’s always a good idea to have someone check in on your home while you’re away just to ensure everything is okay.
You can also give your trusted contact person a key to your home in case of an emergency. Just be sure to choose someone you trust completely, as you don’t want to give anyone access to your home who may not have your best interests at heart.
2. Unplug All Appliances
Before leaving for your trip, unplug all appliances in your home—including your TV, computer, and coffee maker. This will not only help prevent any potential fires while you’re away, but it will also help you save on energy costs. If possible, consider investing in a smart power strip so that you can easily control all of your appliances from one central location.
When it comes to your computer, it’s also a good idea to back up all of your important files and documents before leaving. This way, if anything does happen to your computer while you’re away, you won’t lose any valuable information.
3. Stop Any Recurring Services
Do you have a newspaper delivery? Or maybe you have a maid service that comes once a week. If so, be sure to cancel these services while you’re away so that no one is coming to your home while you’re gone. The last thing you want is for someone to realize that no one is home and take advantage of the situation.
You can also put your mail on hold while you’re away. This way, you won’t have to worry about your mail piling up and becoming a target for thieves. To do this, simply contact your local post office and let them know when you’ll be gone and when you’d like your mail to start being delivered again.
4. Get Done with Long Due Repairs
One of the best things you can do before leaving for a trip is to take care of any long-due repairs around your home. For example, if your home siding needs repair, now is the time to take care of it. Not only will this help improve the curb appeal of your home, but it will also help protect your home from the elements while you’re away. Hire reputable siding repair contractors to get the job done quickly and efficiently.
In addition, if you have broken windows or loose siding, be sure to fix these problems before leaving. Not only will this help improve the security of your home, but it will also help you avoid any potential accidents while you’re away.
5. Put Your Valuables in a Safe Place
Before leaving for your trip, put all of your valuables in a safe place—preferably out of plain sight. This way, if somebody does break into your home while you’re gone, they won’t be able to see any valuable items that may tempt them to break in further.
Moreover, it’s also a good idea to leave an inventory of your valuable items with a trusted friend or family member so that they can contact the proper authorities if anything happens.
6. Set Some Lights On Timers
Another good way to deter burglars is by setting some lights on timers throughout your house so that it appears as though someone is still home even when no one is there. In addition to turning lights on and off at different times throughout the day, you can also use timer-controlled outdoor lights to make it appear as though someone is still coming and going from your property even when they’re not.
Just be sure not to overdo it; if all the lights in your house are constantly turning on and off at different times of day, it will look suspicious and may actually attract more attention than if no lights were on!
As exciting as traveling can be, it’s important not to forget about securing and preparing your home before heading out on your next adventure. By following the tips above, you can rest assured knowing that your home will be safe and sound while you enjoy yourself elsewhere!