Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation  |  Chafin Communities

Summer is the time for family vacations, long weekend trips, and getting away from our busy lives. Having the peace of mind that your home is safe upon your return can make all the difference. Having the peace of mind that your home is safe upon your return can make all the difference. There are precautions you need to take to keep your home safe while you’re away.

By:  Colleen Voisin   Date: 7/21/2021

Steps To Keep Safe

We’ve all heard that story of someone returning from vacation to find their home burglarized.  Or even worse that a pipe has burst and their home flooded. No one wants to come home to that. That would ruin any fun trip you had.

There are precautions you need to take to keep your home safe. We’ve compiled a list of tips that will help set your mind at ease while away from home.

Check in with a Neighbor, Family, or Friend

Ask a friend, family member, or neighbor you trust to pop in on your home while you are away.  Do you have a neighborhood watch program in your subdivision?  If so, let them know that you will be away.

Package Delivery and Mail Service

Don’t get packages delivered while you are away.  Packages sitting on a porch for days is a sure sign that no one is home. Stop your mail service and newspapers for the duration of your vacation.  Nothing says No one is home as packages and newspapers piled up on the porch.  If you can’t stop the delivery of your packages this is where your neighbors check in can help. They can pick up your packages or mail and put them inside your home or even collect them until you get back.

Police Department House Checks

Small town and city police departments sometimes offer services called house check requests. Residents submit a house check request 48 hours before leaving for vacation. The police will check the home while the resident is away.

The form takes only a few minutes to fill out.  You would label all vehicles at your home, any lights that remain on inside and outside of the house.  The police walk the perimeter of the home several times a day. Checking all doors and windows making sure nothing is out of place.

We learned about this great program in a city called Suwanee, GA.  This city has been on the Top 50 Best Places to Live list for many years. Now we are not saying that all cities would have this program.  But it’s worth a call to your local police department to see if they offer a similar program.

Answer The Door From Anywhere

Home invasions, porch pirates, and unwanted solicitors can show up at your doorstep.  One easy way to safeguard against property theft is by investing in a video doorbell. A video doorbell is your first line of defense to knowing who’s at your door.

The great thing is that not only can you answer the doorbell when you are away but it can also record footage.  These devices use wi-fi to stream video to your phone with alerts and offer a variety of cool features.  Features that include cloud video storage, motion detection, sirens, and lock services.

Lock All Windows, Doors, and Garages

Do a perimeter check before walking out the door to make sure that all windows and doors are locked.  The key here is the garage. Folks always miss this one.  Thieves carry universal garage door openers.  So be sure to turn the bar lock on your garage door as an extra precaution.

Do You Have an Alarm System?

Home security systems have come a long way over the last ten years. Your first line of defense against a burglary or internal hazard.  These systems can also monitor doors, windows, and environmental sensors.  These sensors can be carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors,  and flood sensors. Call the company and let them know that you will be away.

Lock Down Social Media

Nothing screams “we’re not home!” like posting a picture of yourself or your family at the beach. Furthermore, with the caption, “Loving our much needed vacation time!”  Yes, pictures are great to take while on vacation but don’t post them to social media.  Enjoy your time away without worrying about posting.  We promise that your platform will still be waiting for you when you return. 

Leave the Lights On 

Keeping your home well lit outside.  Intruders like to move in the shadows so keep those areas around your home well lit.  Invest in motion lights that turn on when something is in their path.  

As for the inside of your home, keep a few lights on and shut the blinds.  This avoids intruders from peering into your windows.  You can also set timers on your lights to come on and off at certain times.  If you have an Alexa or other types of smart home devices, you can also set them to play music at certain times of the day too.

Remove Spare Keys

Collect any hidden spare keys from around the exterior of your house. If you’re away burglars know to get under potted plants and mats.  You’re better off removing the key or giving it to a neighbor or family member while away.

Shut Off Water Main

Coming home to a vacation flood is not a good time.  Be vigilant about turning off the water main before long trips. Turn the supply off at each toilet, dishwasher, washing machine, and ice maker to cover all bases.  These types of internal hazards can cost thousands of dollars to fix.  Valuable pictures and memories are gone if you use certain areas of your home for storage.