A vacation checklist for before you leave town
The Flying Locksmiths understand that would-be thieves don’t take a break in the summer. Before you head out on your next vacation, use this checklist to help ensure you and your belongings in your home are as safe as possible.
The good news is great security makes for better vacations! Knowing your home is protected means you’ll worry less and be able to enjoy yourself more.
Have visibly secure window and door locks: Windows and doors are the first line defense towards protecting your home. In other words, these are not places to skimp on protection! All locks and installations are not considered equal: Invest in properly installed deadbolts for all your outside doors. Consulting with your local locksmith and getting the best locks for your particular home will not just make it harder to get in, but may deter the bad guys from even trying to begin with!
Pause your mail service: Decide what to do about your mail and newspaper delivery ahead of time. There are pros and cons to the following options and what you decide to do may depend on your unique situation. Fortunately, this has gotten much easier in recent years. All you have to do is visit this page on USPS.com and make your request. Doing this a few days ahead of time is best, but you can even request that the post office hold your mail as soon as the next day.
Stop newspaper delivery: Again, this is has become quicker and easier and can be done as late as the day before! Simply visit your local newspaper online and make your request.
BUT depending on your situation (i.e. – has your neighborhood recently been targeted by thieves?), you may want to have a neighbor pick up paper and mail for the following reason: Burglars often watch our habits. If they notice that the mailman and paper delivery is suddenly bypassing your home, it may be a clear signal to them that you are out of town.
Consider your lighting and change up your lightbulbs: Lights that are left on 24/7 serve as a glowing beacon to would-be burglars. One inexpensive solution is to install dusk to dawn light bulbs in any outdoor fixtures, such as these.
Install outdoor motion detector lights: Nothing will give a would-be burglar pause more than a light that pops on unexpectedly. A variety of shapes and sizes are available from hard-wired options to battery-operated porch-lights. If you are going to leave on lights, be sure to leave on the ones that make sense to be left on, such as in bathrooms and hallways.
Don’t hide your valuables in the Master Bedroom: Don’t hide things in here! In the event of a break-in, the Master Bedroom is one of the first places that a burglar will look. If you have to keep valuables in your bedroom, be sure to keep them locked up in a secure home safe.
Of course, it’s best to deal with many of these items well ahead of your next vacay! So contact or give us a call at 1-800-649-5397 to help you get started with those deadbolts you’ve been meaning to get.
We know – no one likes dealing with this stuff. But we promise you’ll quiet those voices in your head that lead to us not appreciating the best parts of life as we should, sleep better and overall enjoy that hammock time more if you take these important precautions.
Bonus home safety tips
Here are a few additional steps we take at the last minute, especially when leaving our homes for more than a few days:
- Adjust thermostats (don’t turn off, as leaving your house too hot or cold, can lead to other problems upon your return.)
- Turn off water main
- Unplug major appliances or use surge protectors on them
- Be sure refrigerator doors are shut
- And last but not least, be sure you remember where you put your house keys in your luggage, so you don’t need to call us when you get home!