Suggestions For Securing Your Home While On Vacation
Are you planning a big vacation during spring break or an escape from the summer heat? Here are some strategies to safeguard your Arizona residence from potential intruders and prevent problems while you’re away. As commonly said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Taking a little care in advance can make you feel more relaxed while at the beach or in the mountains. Here are 18 smart security suggestions – some new, some that are worth repeating – that will help you achieve a sense of total ease:
1 | Consider adding a home security system.
If you’ve been thinking of having a security system with alarms in your home, now might be a good time to install one. Be sure to turn it on when you leave though! We recommend a monitored security system for maximum protection. Relying on a DIY security system that uses WIFI is only as reliable as your internet. Crafty criminals have learned to jam the internet at prospective homes thereby disabling those systems.
2 | Have a proper deadbolt on your exterior doors.
Many people worry about burglars when they leave their homes. Even with a security system, it is always a good idea to lock the doors and windows whether you’re leaving for a long trip or going out to dinner. Burglaries are more common in the summer when people leave their homes open or leave for vacation. Historically burglaries are most common in the daytime however, there has been a recent rash of dinnertime burglaries in the valley. Make sure the main exterior doors all have deadbolts with a one-inch throw. You can also install security screen doors with their own deadbolt locks for extra protection.
3 | Embrace smart technology and switch to smart locks.
If you expect someone, like a repairman or relative, to visit your house when you’re away or during an emergency, consider installing a smart lock so that you can open the door via smartphone. Some smart locks feature numbered keypads that enable users to have individualized access codes for each visitor/resident.
4 | Give an emergency key to your friend or neighbor.
No smart lock? No problem. Ask a trusted neighbor or a friend to watch the house and leave a good ol’ key with them for emergencies. Don’t hide keys under doormats, fake rocks, or pots near the door, that’s too easy for burglars to figure out. The magnetic hide-a-key options at the hardware store are better, but still risky. There are also services that allow you to hire someone to stay at your house or visit regularly for extra security.
5 | Arrange for someone move your trash can.
Ask a friend or trusted neighbor to take out your trash can and bring it back in on garbage pickup day to suggest that the house is occupied. Bonus: you won’t have to come home to a full trash after vacation.
6 | Put a temporary hold on your mail and the press.
Reach out to your local post office to put a stop or a temporary hold on your mail. Hold or delay any physical subscription services like the newspaper and make sure any package delivery made to your door stops a few days before you leave. Piled up newspapers, mail, and packages make your home a target. If stopping the press isn’t an option for you, that same friend or neighbor who helped with your trash can, will likely be willing to take in your mail too.
7 | Keep up with your landscape.
If you will be gone a month or more, have someone clean up any debris or plant materials that build up around your house. Nothing is more evident that a home is unoccupied than bird’s nests being built around your front door. Hire a gardener and pay them for servicing your home while you’re away. If you’re asking a friend or trusted neighbor to help while your away, perhaps offer to compensate them in some way as a thank you.
8 | Maintain a natural appearance.
Keep blinds, shutters, and shades in their usual positions. When everything is closed tightly, it’s a sign that nobody will be home for a long time.
9 | Control lighting with smart plugs and timers.
Plug in manual timers on lights, TVs, or other electronic devices so they go on and off while you’re away. Choose timers that will randomly turn things on and off, so the situation looks more realistic. Alternatively, if you have a smartphone, install smart switches that utilize an app. We like the brand Leviton. It is an easy system to use, and this technology allows you to control the lighting from wherever you may be! Leviton’s motion sensors are also a good deterrent.
10 | Tidy up your house before you leave.
Don’t leave spare car keys in obvious places in the house. A burglar might break in, find a car key, and drive off in the car you left at home. Other things to hide away include password books, bank statements, bills, or mail with detailed or personally identifiable information.
While this may not be a security related tip per se, it will make future you happy: do a quick clean so your home is fresh when you return. Trust us, you’ll thank yourself later!
11 | Increase security with a safe.
Keep valuables and spare cash in a safe in a non-obvious location in the house. The first-place thieves go is the primary bedroom. If you don’t have a safe, temporarily store valuables in an unusual place, like a kitchen cabinet. Remember where you left them! Snap a photo of the hiding place with your phone.
12 | Prepare your home for the heat.
The warmer months are not a good time to turn off the air conditioner, even if you won’t be there. To save on unnecessary cooling costs, raise the thermostat no higher than the mid-80s. Otherwise, the heat can be tough on your furniture and appliances. Put a water jug or two in your refrigerator so it runs more efficiently. You might also want to leave a five-gallon bucket of water somewhere in the house to maintain the humidity for the benefit of plumbing p-traps, furniture, and artwork.
13 | Turn off the ceiling fan.
No need to keep ceiling fans running. Yes, they move air, but they don’t cool a room off. The fan only provides cooling for you because it helps moisture evaporate from your skin.
14 | Monitor for water leaks.
Many homeowners worry about water pipes or water heaters leaking when they’re away. You can buy one of the many smart leak detection devices on the market. Most are battery-powered and sell for $50 or less. These are small sensors you put on the floor or in a cabinet next to pipes or appliances like a water heater or refrigerators. They sound an alarm you can hear if you’re around, but you will want a sensor to alert your smartphone when you’re away so that you can dispatch a plumber. We recommend SimpleSENCE.
15 | Install a whole-house water shut-off valve.
A shut-off valve is an even better option to prevent water damage. Have a whole-house water shut-off valve that you turn off when leaving your home for a long time. A plumber can install one outside the house so that the last thing you do before leaving is shut off the water. The valves can be setup, so they do not stop water to your indoor fire sprinkler system or outdoor irrigation pipes in the yard. If you do this, turn down the water heater and disconnect the water softener. Some water heaters even have a “vacation mode”.
16 | Lock your garage and prep your car.
When parking your car at an airport lot for a long time, don’t leave keys, garage door openers, or anything with your home address on it, inside the vehicle. Before you leave the house, be sure to lock your garage doors securely. To prevent anyone from intentionally or accidentally opening the door electronically, lock them from the wall-mounted garage door opener. You can prevent the door from being manually opened by using the slide lock inside your garage door located about a third of the way up.
17 | Notify the right people.
Local police will often keep an eye on your home if they know it is empty. Call to see what is available. If you live in a secured gated community, let the security guards know that you will be gone.
18 | Wait to make social media posts.
While you’re away, don’t post photos or updates of any kind to social media sites. A picture of you in front of Westminster Abbey or an update that you’re having fun out of town, clearly indicates that your house is empty and vulnerable. We work hard for what we have, it only makes sense we would want to protect it. If there are things you do for security that we haven’t listed here, be sure to let us know what those are in the comments! Now, go relax and enjoy your time off knowing your Arizona home is protected.
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