With the summer travel season in full swing, you’re likely focused on making final arrangements for your upcoming trip out of town. When you leave for vacation this summer, the last thing you want is to return home and find something broken or learn that thieves have stolen your belongings. Use the following vacation checklist to help protect your home before leaving on a trip.
Critical Steps to Take Before Leaving Home for Vacation This Summer
Here’s a travel checklist outlining what to do before leaving for vacation this summer:
- Install a home security system. A home security system can alert the police if anyone breaks into your home while you’re gone. Many smart security systems also send alerts to your phone if something happens, giving you a chance to respond. These systems can give you peace of mind while you’re away from home.
- Use timers for lights and electronics. Putting automatic timers on your lights and electronics serves two critical purposes. First, putting electronic devices on a timer can help you save on your utility bills by keeping power-hungry devices from constantly running. Second, timed lights can help give the impression that someone is at home, which helps deter potential thieves.
- Secure all windows and doors. The best gift you can give a potential thief is an unlocked door or window. Go through your home, checking every window and door to ensure it’s locked before heading out on your trip. A little preparation ahead of time can save you massive headaches later.
- Ask a neighbor to check in. It never hurts to have someone you trust stop by your home while you’re gone. That way, you’ll know about any potential issues when you have a chance to respond instead of coming home to discover a tree fell on your roof or someone broke in.
- Stop deliveries. A full mailbox, a porch full of packages, or a pile of unread newspapers on your front doorstep can tell thieves that no one’s home, making your house a potential target. Pausing mail and newspaper deliveries helps keep criminals away from your home.
- Avoid posting vacation plans on social media. It’s tempting to share your vacation plans and photos on social media, but if bad actors see the posts, they know you’re not home. You can share all your photos when you’re safe and sound after your trip.
- Unplug non-essential electronics. Unplugging non-essential electronics can lower your electric bill and also reduce the potential risk of fires if a device malfunctions.
- Check water valves. Shutting off water valves is an effective way to avoid returning to a flooded home due to a leak or a burst pipe, which can cause significant damage and send your water bill through the roof.
- Use motion sensor lights. Motion-sensing lights or smart lights help deter burglars by eliminating hiding places and giving the impression that the home is occupied.
- Lock up valuables. Putting your jewelry and other valuables in a secure, fireproof safe protects them from burglars, fires, and other risks.
- Keep your lawn maintained. Having someone mow your grass is another way to deter thieves, as it suggests the home is occupied and the owner is paying attention to the property’s condition.
- Use a smart lock or video doorbell. Installing a smart lock or video doorbell on your front door can help you monitor your house. If someone stops by to check on your home, you can let them in without giving them a key or hiding one somewhere a thief might find it.
Get Help from Our South Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys
While following this checklist for a vacation can help protect your home while you’re away, accidents can still happen during your vacation. If you were hurt in a car crash or other accident during your summer vacation, contact Jebaily Law Firm for a free consultation.
