19 May Keep Your Home Security Airtight When Away From Home With These 4 Tips
For frequent flyers, road-trippers and weekend adventurers like Chanel and Stevo, there’s no greater luxury than peace of mind when away from home for a long time. This keeps you from consuming energy asking questions and thinking about whether you locked your windows or left a light on.
Here are some easy-to-follow tips to help you give your full attention to your trips rather than worry about home.
How To Keep Your Home Safe When You’re Away From Home
Conduct a Thorough Security Walk-Through
There are as many as 14.6 household burglary or trespassing victims per 1,000 households. Performing simple security checks in your home significantly increases its protection. After all, most burglaries are crimes of opportunity. Before you leave for your trip, make sure to eliminate as many of these possibilities as possible.
Check every potential entry point, from doors and windows, especially in overlooked areas. The door connecting the garage to the main house should be treated like a main door. Lock it securely with a deadbolt lock that extends deep into the doorframe, preventing the door from being kicked or pried open.
Leverage Smart Technology for Ultimate Peace of Mind
Smart technology lets you stay vigilant with real-time oversight of your home, even when you’re far away. For example, a video doorbell both takes a video of people visiting or lurking around your home and serves as a warning to potential burglars.
Randomize your smart technology timers so that lights, TV and radio can turn on and off in unpredictable patterns, much like how a real person would use them. Focus on rooms that are more visible from outside, such as the living room and bedrooms.
A home security app adds another layer of convenience and technology. These apps allow you to control these smart technologies remotely, including smart locks, thermostats and lights. Automate them to send alerts when there’s suspicious activity, a water leak and other important security issues. This way, you can respond immediately if something happens, instead of finding out about it after you return from your trip.
Create the Illusion of an Occupied Home
Beyond randomizing lights turning on and off, take it a step further and make your home feel lived in. This makes them less attractive targets for burglars because of the added risk of encountering the homeowner. One visually striking way to do this is by arranging yard and exterior upkeep in advance. After all, an overgrown lawn is one of the first things people see, and it usually indicates that no one currently resides in your house.
Another option is to manage your mail and deliveries. You can ask for help from a friend or a family member to clear piles of newspaper, mail and packages on your porch. Not only will you make your home look occupied, but you can also secure your belongings. After all, about 64 million Americans have had a package stolen, raising the seriousness of theft as a home security issue.
Inform a Trusted Neighbor or Friend
An engaged or observant neighbor provides you with another layer of peace of mind. They can check the house from time to time and keep an eye out for possible issues. You can disarm your home via security apps so trusted friends can enter without triggering an alarm. Provide them with your contact information, travel itinerary and the number to reach law enforcement.
Remember to only mention your long-term travel to people you trust. Quick tip: be careful about posting real-time updates from your vacation, as it can give people the idea that your house is currently empty. It’s better to be safe and to post vacation photos when you have returned home. Chanel and Stevo live by this rule as it also allows you stay present and fully enjoy the trip you are on.
Travel with Confidence
The most important things to remember are to conduct thorough security measures, create a lived-in look, and utilize smart technology in order to fully secure your home. By taking these steps, you can fully immerse yourself in your travels, knowing everything is safe and sound.
Author bio: Jack Shaw is a freelance lifestyle writer and dedicated traveler. His writing focuses on exploring the food, culture and beautiful views of wherever life decides to throw him. Stories of his travel can be seen in Modded, Trekaroo, The Travel Magazine and more. Jack has a love of all things outdoors, and spends much of his free time taking on local US hiking trails and state parks.
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