7 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe While on Vacation

Your vacation is just around the corner. One thing you might not have planned is double-checking your home security.

The security of your home is just as important as your hotel reservations and flight schedule. These seven simple steps will help you avoid coming home to find your valuables were stolen or your house was damaged.

1. Newspaper and Mail
   Mail and newspapers piling up in your mailbox are sure signs that you're away. Either ask a neighbor to bring in your newspapers and mail or stop deliveries until after vacation. You can also stop any scheduled UPS package deliveries. UPS will hold them for up to 30 days. 
2. Light Timer
   So no one suspects you're gone, it's best to keep your home well-lit. Pre-set your lights to come on at certain times of the day. Just remember to stagger the settings, so your lights don't always come on at the same time every day. You can pair many timers with an app on your smartphone and control it from anywhere.
3. Home Improvement
   Before leaving for vacation, mow the lawn, trim your shrubs, wash the windows, and clean up the yard. An overgrown lawn is a sure giveaway that no one is home. If you're planning an extended trip, hire someone to mow and water the lawn and take care of other small home improvements while you're away. For example, if a storm blows through, have someone you trust pick up fallen branches and knock over lawn furniture.
4. Check the Locks
   If you don't have durable deadbolts, consider replacing them before you leave. Lock all your windows, the garage door, the basement door, and any deck entryways. Secure every entry into your home. If you have a house key hidden outside, remove it because an experienced burglar will find it. Give your house key directly to any person you have coming to your house to water your plants or feed your fish while you're away.
5. Close Main Water Line
   Shut off the main water line where it enters your house. If it breaks while you're on vacation, you'll have a major flood in your basement. You don't want to come home to find everything in your basement underwater.
6. Alert Police
   Before heading out the door, call the local police and let them know the dates you'll be out of town. Most local PDs send a police car by your home a few times, making sure nothing looks amiss.
7. Leave Blinds Open
   Many people think it's better to close the window blinds, so no one can peek into the house while on vacation. This is not a good idea. If everyone in the neighborhood has window shades pulled up and your house has the shades down, it's a red flag to potential burglars.

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