What To Do Before A Trip: Home Safety Tips Part 2

In our last post, we started to share the basic steps for preparing your home before you leave for a trip. Securing your house will not only help deter thieves, but it will also make sure you avoid damage or loss. Remember to have a friend or family member check on your home to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Read on for the rest of the home safety tips:

Pause Mail and Deliveries- A pile of newspapers is a sign to potential thieves that homeowners are not around. Be sure to hold your mail by going to usps.com or stopping by the post office. You can cancel newspaper deliveries and ask a neighbor to check for and remove packages and notices of attempted delivery.

Thermostat- If you are leaving while the temperature is still low, you will want to set your thermostat to no lower than 55 degrees.This prevents freezing pipes and colder temperatures that may affect the interior of your home. If the weather has warmed up, its okay to turn the thermostat up. If you have a programmable thermostat, set it to return to a normal temperature the day you arrive home so you aren’t welcomed by a stuffy house.

Security- Double check that all doors are locked and enable your alarm system if you have one. Use light timers to deter thieves- set your living and bedroom lights to turn on in the evening following your typical schedule. Exterior light timers are another great investment. To go the extra step, consider a radio timer that can turn on in the evening to make it seem you are home.

Just as you make a packing list before the day of your vacation, you should make a house preparation list a few weeks in advance .This gives you time to buy or find light timers, ask neighbors to check in and hold mail. Do you have any tips for preparing your home for a vacation?