Keeping your house safe if you're heading away these holidays
19 December 2022"The best way to make sure your house is safe while you're gone is to have someone you trust living in it."
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School holidays are here and many of us are also about to enjoy a well-earned break. If you’re going away you may want to put some plans in place to ensure your home is as safe as possible and give yourself some peace of mind.
Here are a few things you can do:
Get a house or pet sitter
The best way to make sure your house is safe while you're gone is to have someone you trust living in it. You may be lucky enough to have a relative or friend who'll move in temporarily and water the plants, feed the pets and pick up the newspapers.
Alternatively, you can hire someone. Use a reputable house-sitting website or ask for recommendations from family and friends.
Make your home look lived in
An occupied home looks lived in. To help create the illusion the house is still occupied, invest in timers that turn on the interior lights for a few hours every evening. Timers can also be used to turn the reticulation on. Another idea is to leave a car parked in the driveway.
Enlist your neighbour’s help
Your neighbours might be willing to empty the letterbox, put out and bring in your rubbish bins or water the plants while you’re away. This can make it look like there is someone at home. If you don’t know your neighbours, this is a great opportunity to introduce yourself and ask for their help.
Stop the newspaper delivery
Nothing says ‘we’re away’ more than newspapers collecting on your front lawn. Stop your regular delivery or ask your neighbours to collect the papers while you’re away.
Keep the landscape tidy
Burglars love privacy. Make your home less appealing by ensuring there’s a clear line of sight from your house to the street.
Lock-up
It sounds obvious but remember to be thorough. If you keep a window unlocked to allow the cat easy access, or never bother to turn the deadbolt on the kitchen door, now's the time to do it.
Remember to lock the shed or garage and remove any spare keys from their outside hiding spots. If you have an alarm system, arm it and let your monitoring service know how long you’ll be gone.
Enlist your neighbourhood security patrol
Many local governments have a free security patrol available to residents. If you’re lucky enough to live in an area which has one, don’t hesitate to call them up and have them put your address on their radar. Generally, they’ll assist by doing a drive by or two each day, however this does depend on resources.
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