Summertime, and the living’s easy… especially if you are planning for a well-deserved summer vacation!
Vacations should be fun and relaxing, a time to recharge your batteries and clear your mind. Whether you prefer digging your toes in the sand or hiking in Yosemite, these delicious breaks make all that hard work throughout the same year seem totally worth it.
Home Security Concerns
But sometimes, vacation seems to cause as much stress as it relieves. Whether you’re traveling alone or with the family, there are plans to map out, weather to account for, flight delays, lost luggage, TSA checks, and the list goes on.
Just thinking about it is enough to make you sweat. You may ask yourself, How can I possibly relax when there are so many things to worry about? Will everyone get along? Will the weather be perfect or ruin my plans?
Quite frequently, the stress centers around what you are leaving behind, like work, pets, and bills. And of course, the big one we think about at Guardian Protection all the time: Will my home be secure while I’m gone?
Take Back Your Vacation
If you find yourself pestered by that question when summer vacation rolls around, you’re not alone. And to an extent, it’s a valid concern. According to FBI data, household burglary rates are 11% higher in summer compared to winter. Who wants to think about that before ziplining in paradise?
Imagine taking this factor out of your worries altogether.
Prepare Your Home for Vacation
No amount of preparation can prevent any and all events. But beyond professionally monitored home security, there are simple precautions you can take to help secure your home and deter burglars before you travel.
Here’s a checklist to run through before you take off, plus a shortened, printable version to keep!
Get Your Home Security Getaway Checklist!
Security System
Tell your security monitoring company that you will be traveling, and test your security system before you leave. Make sure you give a temporary user code to anyone you’ve asked to check on your home.
Buddy System
Have a friend or family member check on the house, park their car in your driveway, and move your trash cans to the curb so the home looks more inhabited. Have a smart lock? Give your buddy a temporary user code!
Garage
Unplug your garage door so it can’t be opened with a universal remote. Also, lock the door between your home and garage in case someone does get in through the garage door.
Heating and Cooling
Set your air conditioner to a higher temperature, but not off. You don’t want to waste energy, but you don’t want too much moisture and humidity to build up.
Suspend mail and newspaper delivery or arrange for a friend or neighbor to collect deliveries. An overflowing mailbox is an obvious sign no one’s home.
Lights
If you have connected lighting, set a schedule for the lights to turn on at a certain time so it looks like someone’s home.
Doors and Windows
Lock all doors and windows. Shades and blinds should be just partly open to give the home a lived-in look. Keep valuables out of sight to discourage “window shopping.”
Food and Fridge
Clean out your fridge and throw away anything that might go bad while you’re away. You can also bump up the temperature a bit to save energy and ensure the fridge doesn’t blow a circuit.
Car/Parking
If you’re leaving your car in long-term parking, make sure you remove any GPS devices. You may have important information programmed into these devices.
Electronics
Turn off and unplug small kitchen appliances, computers, and TVs. They waste energy just by being plugged in and some are susceptible to power surges.
Pets
Arrange care for your pet and provide detailed instructions. Make sure your pet’s ID tags are up-to-date, and the doggy door is locked up tight.
Landscaping
Mow your lawn and trim back any hedges so your home looks actively tended. If you have home security, put your yard sign on display!
Spare Keys
If you’re not already using our keyless smart lock, move any outdoor spares somewhere safe.
Social Media
Resist the urge to post about your trip on social media. Wait until you get home to share photos.
Smart and Professionally Monitored Home Security
All of these tips are beneficial, but the most calming thing might be just knowing that:
- Your home is professionally monitored 24/7 by a trusted security company.
- You can look in any time with your smartphone, computer, or tablet.
Guardian’s home security and smart automation solutions keeps the control in your hands. If you want video cameras that allow you to see certain areas of your home on-demand, no problem. If you want to automate your lights and thermostats, and control them from wherever you are, we can make that happen for you. All the while, Guardian’s award-winning monitoring station never sleeps but stays ready to respond to your security system’s burglary, fire and emergency signals.
Interested in home security? Want to upgrade your home with any of the smart devices mentioned in our list?
Call us at 1.800.PROTECT (1.800.776.8328) or learn more about smart home automation here.
