Before you leave on your next vacation, you need to prepare your home for your absence. Taking proper precautions before you go can help prevent accidents, burglaries and other serious disasters at your home. Protecting your home during your absence requires only a few simple steps.
Install a Security System
Installing a security system can help you to feel relaxed about your home while you’re on vacation. A good system will monitor your doors and alert an alarm company if the system detects an intrusion. Be sure to give your new security system a few tests to ensure it will work properly. Before you leave for your trip, make sure all of your windows and doors are securely locked.
Avoid Obvious Signs
Try to avoid common mistakes that make your house look empty to potential burglars. For example, avoid closing the curtains on all of your windows. Additionally, you should consider using an electrical timer to automatically turn your lamps on and off during the night.
Save Money
Most homeowners do not need to leave their air conditioner on during a summer vacation. If you live in a desert, you should set your air conditioner to come on when your house reaches a certain temperature, such as 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Setting this temperature threshold will ensure that your food and appliances do not suffer any damage from prolonged exposure to the heat. For a winter vacation, you should turn down your furnace. However, if your area is expecting freezing conditions while you are away, you should set the furnace to turn on occasionally to protect your pipes, according to specialists at Gunthers Salt Lake City Heating.
If you have pets, you will need to adjust your furnace or air conditioner to help your pets feel more comfortable while you are gone. Alternatively, you can ask a neighbor to host your pets during your vacation.
Tell Your Neighbors
If you’re planning to take a long vacation, tell your trusted neighbors about your plans. Your neighbors can keep an eye on your house and report any strange activity to you or the police. You can even leave your neighbors a spare key so that they can check on your home’s interior. Consider asking your neighbors to pick up any stray mail or packages they find on your porch.
You don’t want to worry about your house the next time you’re on vacation. By following these simple precautions, you can enjoy your next trip and feel assured about your home’s safety.
Author Bio
Melisa Cammack is a freelance writer with a passion for traveling. This article was inspired after being out of town for a few days, only to come home to a busted furnace and an icy cold house. With Gunthers, she received the best furnace repair Utah has to offer.
