Ensure the Safety of Your Home While Away
Going on holiday is an exciting time but coming home to find out that your home has been burgled is not so good but neither is coming home to a burnt down house. To ensure that you fully relax while on holiday there are a few things you can do to make sure that your home remains safe.
The following five tips can really make a difference to the safety of your home when you travel abroad.
Don’t make it obvious
If you allow your mail to build up or if letters are seen hanging from your letterbox then people are going to know that your house is empty. Don’t forget about cancelling any milk you may have delivered or anything other deliveries.
Royal mail (Link -Protecting your home and identity while you’re away) will keep hold of your post for you at a cost but you can always give a key to a relative or trusted neighbour so they can keep on top of it all.
Switch everything off
Switch every appliance off that you can think of apart from your fridge/freezer. This is a great idea for two reasons. The first is that it will limit the chance of anything catching fire (Link – Fire Brigade) but it will also save you money on bills.
You could also leave your heating off which would also reduce the risk of any problems as well as your oven and hob.
Make it look as though you are still there
Purchasing timing switched, will allow you to switch lights on at certain times which will make it look as though you are actually at home, Crime Prevention Products website have lots of those products listed (Link – Home Security while on Holiday). Asking a neighbour to park their car in your drive can also help it to look as though someone is there.
Secure windows and doors
Do one large check of all windows and doors before you go to make sure they are securely locked. Once locked remember to keep any keys out of sight. If you make it easy for burglars to gain entry then you may find that your home insurance is invalid.
Statistics show that a leak is more likely to occur than theft and this is why it is also important to leave keys with someone so that checks can be done.
Don’t tell the world you are away
While you may be super excited to be going away, telling the whole world about it through the likes of social media or even posting about it while you are away is a bit like leaving your front door wide open.
By putting it out there, all you are doing is advertising the fact that your home is empty and ready to be burgled (Link – Police, Crime prevention advice). Take as many pictures as you wish while you are away but only post about them on your return.
These simple measures will really reduce the chances of you having any problems while you are away. So don’t run the risk of ruining your holiday by not being a little savvy before you go and while you are away. Take the right precautions and use a little common sense and your home will remain safe while you relax in the sun.
