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Got an upcoming holiday planned? Whilst you may be preoccupied with thoughts of excitement for your holidays and the chance to escape, it’s important not to overlook the protection of your empty home amidst all the excitement.
The last thing you want is to return from your holiday to find your home has been burglarised.
On your checklist of things to prepare and pack, one of your top priorities to add is things to purchase or stuff to do in order to keep your home safely on lockdown whilst away.
In this article, we’ll be listing the top things you need to consider for your home’s security before you leave for your holiday.
Upgrade Your Locks
It might sound basic, but your locks are a good starting point and one of the first barriers between your home and a burglary.
New techniques are discovered over time when it comes to exploiting locks, so updating yours will help you stay ahead of the game.
Simply search online for a local locksmith who can offer advice and install, upgrade, or repair your locks. They may be able to inspect your home and assess any weak points in your locks, doors, and windows.
You could opt for deadbolts, which are a good old fashioned way of preventing break ins, or you can embrace the future and ask for recommendations for smart locks. With smart locks you can monitor and control access to your home via your smartphone.
In fact, there are a range of smart devices to consider in order to upgrade your security…
Get Smart (Lighting and Devices)
As well as smart locks, there are many other “smart” devices on the market that can help give you peace of mind in both direct and indirect ways.
Take smart lighting for example, not only will this provide convenience when you’re at home (not to mention raise the value of your property a little) but it’ll prove useful even whilst you’re away.
Whether you’re stuck on your comfy sofa at home or miles away on holiday, smart lighting will allow you to control your lights instantly. You can also set them on a timer, so that they’ll come on in the evening, making it look like you’re at home even if you aren’t, which will in turn put off burglars.
You could of course do this without a smart or timed feature, leaving a light or two on all the time. But this would be a waste of electricity, money, and worst case scenario: a smart burglar could catch on that no one is home.
Other smart devices include cameras, such as doorbell cameras. A simple motion controlled light could also be enough to spook a would be thief.
Don’t Announce Your Plans (Especially on Social Media)
Other than investing in smart devices, you should also get smart with your habits. This means things like the fact that you shouldn’t advertise you are away.
Don’t announce your plans on social media, as tempting as it is to brag, and only tell a small circle of trusted friends and neighbours that you are going away if you can help it.
Although that being said, as long as no one dodgy has your exact address, it should be fine to spill the news a little. It’s just better to be safe than sorry. Focus on your holiday and wait until you’re back to post your photos – and set that profile to private.
Avoid Signalling That Your Home is Empty
As well as not announcing your plans verbally or digitally, you should also avoid inadvertently signalling that you are away. You may not realise you’re doing it but there are a few things that can act as a signal that your property is vacated.
These include things such as not letting any mail pile up in your letterbox and not neglecting your front yard.
Do a bit of gardening before you go away, if you’ll be away for an extended period, it might be worth arranging for someone to keep things maintained for you.
As for mail, consider asking a trusted neighbour to take in your post or deliveries for you. You can also contact Royal Mail to hold your post whilst you’re away by using their Keepsafe service here.
Final Thoughts
By implementing the items on this list, you’ll strategically reduce your risk of any mishaps and truly be able to relax, making the absolute most of your time away.
It’s not just relevant to holidays either, some of these steps can be great to take for everyday life too, whether you’re out for a few hours or several days. Checking what your home/theft insurance covers won’t hurt either!
