The holidays are a busy, exciting time. If you’re planning to go on vacation or visit family members, don’t let that excitement keep you from protecting your home. Nationwide explains:

According to the FBI, a home is burglarized every 15 seconds in the United States – resulting in an average valued loss of $2,188.

Before you leave, make sure you have measures in place to keep your property safe while you’re gone—so you can enjoy the holidays worry-free.

Consider Home Security Systems

Honestly, home security systems are an essential for every homeowner—whether you’re traveling or not—and they aren’t as much of a hassle as they once were. According to security.org:

Recently, companies like Cove have disrupted the market, resulting in affordable pricing, easy DIY installation, and plenty of smart home automation features.

As technology advances, our options for home security systems continue to expand. These are an important way to keep your home safe—but make sure to do thorough research before investing. Consider which costs, monitoring options, equipment, user experience, etc. works best for you and your home.

Lock Everything Down

This might sound like a simple suggestion, but if you’re leaving for a trip, make sure everything in your home is locked down. Double-check all the doors and windows. You might even consider upgrading your locks, especially if you don’t have deadbolts. And if you have pet doors, don’t forget to lock those too.

Remove Hidden Spare Keys

It might be tempting to leave a spare key hidden outdoors somewhere, in case a friend or neighbor needs to come in. But no matter how well you think you’ve hidden a key, a burglar knows all the spots. Don’t risk it. Instead, give a spare key to family, a friend, or a trusted neighbor.

Simulate Occupancy

Even when you’re not home, you don’t want to make it obvious that no one is home. If a burglar sees that no one has been there to take care of your space, that makes you a target.

Consider having at least one light on a timer so it turns on every once in a while. Make sure you don’t have newspaper and mail piling up—either stop it, or ask a trusted neighbor to collect it. Also, don’t forget to arrange for your yard to be taken care of so the grass isn’t overgrown! According to SafeWise:

Even if you stop the mail and don’t have newspapers piling up on the front step, accumulating snow or leaves, and overgrown hedges are just like leaving a calling card for potential thieves.

By making it seem like someone is still at your home regularly isn’t a foolproof way to prevent theft, but it’ll certainly make burglars think twice.

Bottom Line

The more safety protocols you have in place, the more stress-free your holiday travels will be. Plus, these measures will add an extra layer of protection even on a normal day.

If you live in or around Stillwater, MN and want more advice on caring for your home, let’s connect.