At Allegacy, we know time away is sometimes the best way to recharge so you can come back to reality, ready to tackle everyday life. We want to make sure when you return, life hasn’t thrown you a curve ball by giving you some tips to keep your home safe while you’re away.
Make your home look lived in: Even while you’re away, your home should look like you’re there to deter thieves. Light timers are a must; however if someone was watching your house, it would be pretty easy to figure out that a timer was in control if the lights went on and off at the same time everyday. With technology, you can purchase timers that work on a varied scheduled controlled by an app on your phone!
Another trick would be to record a continuous loop conversation and play it near the door so it sounds like someone is home.
Enlist the help of your neighbors: Make sure a trusted neighbor knows your schedule and has contact information. Ask them to ‘keep an eye’ on things while you’re gone. You can also ask them to park in your driveway to give the illusion of someone leaving and coming home throughout the day. Make sure they grab your paper and mail as well so these items don’t pile up while you’re away (or place a vacation hold on them with the carrier).
Secure your valuables: Make sure all of your doors and windows are locked before you hit the road. If you have a security system, make sure it is set and notify them that you will be out of town. If you have items, such as jewelry and important papers, store them in a safe deposit box at the Credit Union. If you normally leave a spare key outside, bring it in the house.
Prepare your house: Unplug computers, televisions and other electronic devices in case there’s a power surge. If it’s cool, make sure your pipes are well insulated and turn your thermostat down to no lower than 55 degrees. If it’s warm, turn your thermostat up to no higher than 80 degrees.
Social media: Be careful what you share on social media. Change your privacy settings so you are only sharing posts with friends or, better yet, wait until you return home to post photos from your trip. If you do choose to post photos on social media, disable the GPS on your phone so it doesn’t show your location. Be sure to contact your financial institution in advance of your trip to verify they have your mobile number on file and to let them know your travel dates to alleviate the possibility of your card transactions appearing suspicious.
Follow these simple steps prior to traveling so when you return, nothing will hold you back from jumping back into life.
Source:
Alt, K. 2017. Protect Your Home While on Vacation Retrieved from: http://www.asecurelife.com/protect-your-home-while-on-vacation/
The information contained above is for informational purposes only and is provided as a service to our members, and is not legal or tax advice. Some links included on this page route to sites owned by an independent third party unaffiliated with Allegacy. Such links are provided only as a convenience. Allegacy does not manage the operation or content of third-party websites and is not responsible for the privacy or security policies on third-party sites. Beware of disclosing personal or account information.
