‘Tis the season for traveling near and far to gather with friends and family. Whether you will be enjoying a warm and toasty holiday in Florida or shivering as you watch the ball drop in Times Square, the last thing you want to worry about is whether your home is safe from intruders. You can take some steps now to ensure that your most treasured possessions will be exactly where you left them when you return from your trip.
Lock Everything Up Tight
You already know that all of your doors and windows should be locked before you leave. A locked door is your first line of defense when it comes to keeping your home safe from intruders. In fact, if an intruder encounters deadbolted doors and locked windows, he or she might decide to move along to another home rather than risk the neighbors hearing them break glass or try to force a door open.
In addition to locking your entryways, you should consider locking up valuables within your home. A thief won’t have much luck if they can’t find your heirloom jewelry and other expensive items if they do gain access to your home. A locking jewelry tray in your master bedroom closet can keep your valuables safely hidden away. You can also ask your closet designer about installing an area in a closet or another storage area where you can hide a lock box or a safe.
Consider a Home Security System
If you live in a safe community, you might consider a home security system to be unnecessary, but consider that many burglars target upscale neighborhoods. In addition, a home security system can alert you not only to an intruder in your home but also a fire, an individual with a key who shouldn’t have one, and more.
Tekna Security & Smart Home is a company in Phoenix that can install an alarm system based on your needs. Even when you are not traveling, it will be helpful to know that your children have gotten home from school and have entered the home, that your dog sitter has walked your dog while you were at work, and even that the thermostat will be set at a comfortable level when you get home. You can read about other ways your home security system can keep your home running more smoothly in your absence on the Tekna website.
Use Discretion in Sharing Your Vacation Plans
In today’s technological world, sharing photos of important moments on social media is a part of life for many people. When you are traveling, however, it is prudent to avoid sharing the news that you are away from home with anyone who is not a close friend or family member. If you have 200 (or 2,000!) followers on your social media site, chances are good that at least one of them might not have your best interest in mind, and word might spread that you are living it up 500 or 1,000 miles away from home, leaving your home and its contents unattended.
In the same respect, it is helpful to ask a close friend or a trusted neighbor to look after your property if you’ll be gone more than a couple of days. Have someone bring in the mail, water your outdoor plants, and sweep the front entry periodically so your home doesn’t look empty. You can also set up timers to turn lights and the radio on and off occasionally.
Keeping your home safe while you are traveling can be made easier with some forethought and help from local professionals. Contact us if you would like a quote for a locked area of your closet.