How to Keep Your Home Safe During a Trip

When you return from your vacation, you want to find your home calm, quiet and undisturbed. The last thing you want is to have to deal with break-ins, fires, rotting food or trash and other unpleasant side effects of an empty home. A few props, timers and preventative measures will ensure that you retain your peace of mind while you're gone and return to a pleasant, secure home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Update your auto, fire and health insurance policies before you leave. You want to make sure everything's correct, in the off chance that something does occur.
2. Make a photocopy of your passports or drivers' licenses, along with credit/debit card numbers and the contact numbers for your bank. Place it in a sealed envelope and leave it with a trusted friend or family member while you're gone, in case your wallet gets stolen and you need to get replacements fast.
3. Write out a trip itinerary with contact numbers for each place you'll be staying, and leave it with a friend or neighbor along with a spare key to your house. Don't place keys in any of the usual hiding places – thieves know them all.
4. Stop delivery of your mail and newspapers, or have someone bring it inside. Newspapers sitting in a pile on your lawn or an overflowing mailbox are sure signs to thieves that you're not home.
5. Leave your window blinds and curtains in their normal positions. If they're closed all the way, they'll give the impression that no one is home. But don't leave any open that give potential thieves a direct view of your valuables.
6. Arrange to have pets taken care of by a trustworthy friend or family member, or hire a pet sitter. It's good to have someone periodically parked in your driveway and going in and out of the house. Make sure you leave enough food, litter, medication and other items your pets will need for the duration of your trip. The pet caretaker can also water your plants, bring in mail, change the position of the window blinds and any other small tasks that need to be done.
7. Put exterior lighting either on motion detectors, light-sensitive photo mechanisms or timers.
8. Use timers for indoor lighting as well. If you can, get the kind that randomly turns lights on and off rather than doing it at the same time every day. Replace all the light bulbs with fresh ones to ensure they don't burn out while you're gone.
9. Mow the lawn the day before you leave. If you'll be gone long enough for it to get out of control again, arrange to have a friend or neighbor mow it for you.
10. Toss out any perishables that could go bad while you're away and remember to take out the trash.
11. Walk around your house just before you leave, locking all the windows and doors. Unplug any appliances that could be a fire hazard. Set your alarm, if you have one.

Tips & Warnings

• Never leave an outgoing message on your answering machine that indicates that you've gone on vacation, or set your e-mail to auto-reply while you're gone.