The Ultimate Vacation Prep Guide: 6 Must-Do’s for a Secure Home

Are you planning a summer vacation with your family? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of families plan their getaways each summer, and it’s a great way to recharge your batteries and create unforgettable memories. However, before you embark on your vacation, it’s essential to protect your home and valuables while you’re away. This article will share vacation prep for your home. Following these tips lets you have an enjoyable and stress-free vacation, knowing your home is safe and secure.

Install a Home Security System as Vacation Prep

First, you should install a security system if you haven’t already. A security system can help prevent burglaries and alert authorities if something does happen. Many different types of security systems are available, including ones that are monitored 24/7 and those that you can monitor yourself from your smartphone. Generally, you want to look for something that will raise an alarm if entry is detected, can record evidence of a break-in, and can deter intruders from carrying out any burglary. Companies like Hartford Alarm Systems can help get you set up with ease before you leave for your vacation, should you wish to install a new system. Security cameras, window and door alarms, and even stronger locks can effectively prevent theft from your home.

Ask a Trusted Neighbor to Keep an Eye on Your Home

Having a trusted neighbor keep an eye on your home while you’re away is always a good idea. They can pick up your mail and newspapers, water plants, and make sure everything looks okay. If someone is looking to rob your home, seeing people regularly going in and out is a good indicator for them to look elsewhere, so even if it’s just for a few minutes, it can be a great help. Lastly, if they notice anything amiss, they can report it to the police on your behalf.

Vacation Prep Includes Installing a Smart Home System

A quality smart home system can greatly improve your home security setup. These systems allow you to control your lights, thermostat, and even your security system from your smartphone or tablet. You can set up schedules to make it look like someone is home, even when you’re away, lock your doors remotely, and access security footage if you have cameras installed.

Put Your Lights on a Timer as Part of Vacation Prep

Another way to make it look like someone is home is to put your lights on a timer. This will give the impression that someone is home and can deter burglars from targeting your home. It’s easily done with a smart home system setup, but it’s also possible with stand-alone devices. Light is one of the most important factors for demonstrating a place is occupied, and even if you have your blinds closed and windows shuttered, light peeking through will still make it look like someone’s home. You can also put your TV on a timer to make it look like someone is watching it.

Don’t Announce Your Vacation on Social Media

While it may be tempting to announce your vacation plans on social media, it’s not a good idea. With how connected the world has become, coupled with the number of agencies, apps, and websites that ask for your home address, a skilled thief can (with effort) track down who lives in a house and find your social media profiles. While setting your profile to private does help, it’s still unwise to make a big deal out of your departure since if they find any way to bypass social media security, they can know for sure that your home is currently vulnerable. Wait until after your trip to post your vacation photos and share your memories.

Hide Your Valuables Before You Leave

Finally, it’s essential to hide your valuables before you leave. This includes jewelry, cash, and anything else that is valuable. You can store them in a safe or in a secure location that could be more obvious. Generally speaking, most forms of physical security for objects can be bypassed given time. However, the goal of a quality safe hidden in your home is to make the act of theft take more time than a would-be thief can afford. Especially if an alarm is going off, no one is going to concentrate on opening a safe when they could grab something more obvious and easy.

Final Thoughts on Vacation Prep for Your Home

Going on vacation should be a time of relaxation and fun, not stress and worry. By following these six peace-of-mind planning items, you can protect your home and valuables while you’re away. Remember to install a security system, ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home, install a smart home system, put your lights on a timer, don’t announce your vacation on social media, and hide your valuables. With these tips, you can have an enjoyable and stress-free vacation, knowing that your home is safe and secure.