8 Tips to protect your home while on vacation.
1) Don’t advertise to a potential house burglar that you are not home. Homes are most vulnerable when they are left empty for a long period of time. When your newspaper and mail begin to pile up, the windows are all dark or the windows are closed in warmer weather your are sending an invite to prowlers.
3) If you can’t find someone to stay at least have a friend or neighbor check on your living quarters during your absences. Have them go around and switch on lights, turn on TVs or flip on the radio. You can even have them open and then close the curtains while they are there. This gives your apartment the illusion that someone is home.
4) Don’t have anyone to apartment sit or to check your home during your vacation? Then consider keeping your lights, TV and radio on a timer. This is a excellent idea even if you do have someone to help. I often keep my TV on when I’m home [Side Note: I don’t watch it, I use it as background noise], If the glowing light in the windows or the sound was absence, I would be announcing no one is home.
6) If you opt out of the house sitter, make sure to stop your mail, newspapers and any other scheduled deliveries. A large stack of newspapers or an overflowing mailbox quickly alerts others that your are not home. Have a nearby friend or neighbor pick up any deliveries while you’re gone on vacation.
7) Ensure your patio garden or the plants on your balcony are being watered regularly or at the very least put the plants where they will not be seen. Slowly having your plants die because of a lack of water, will quickly announce your absence.
8) Read over your leasing agreement. Landlords will often require notification when your apartment is scheduled to be empty for a long period of time (this way should a emergency arise and you cannot be reached they they can enter without disturbing you). When you use a house sitter this becomes unnecessary.
