14 Home Safety Tips While on Vacation [2022 Guide]

Vacation time is an oasis for many of us, but it can also be a time of vulnerability. Your home may be the greatest treasure you own, which is why you should take a few simple steps to ensure that it remains safe and secure while you're gone.

So before you leave your home for a few days or weeks, it's essential to take precautions so that when you return, you will find everything remains the same as you left it. In this article, we've compiled 14 home safety tips while on vacation.

Six Home Safety Tips BEFORE Your Vacation

You should do a few things before you leave on vacation to help protect your home.

1. Make sure your home is well-lit: One of the best things you can do to deter burglars is to make sure your home is well-lit. Burglars are looking for dark, secluded homes that they can break into without being seen. If your home is well-lit, it will be much less inviting to burglars. You'd better mow your lawn before leaving to ensure no unused garden mulch.

2. Get an alerted home security system: A home security camera system is another excellent way to deter burglars. If they notice that there's a home security alarm system that protects your home, they are much less likely to target it. 

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3. Keep valuables out of sight: If you have any valuables in your home, make sure your valuables are out of sight and not easily accessible to burglars. Try to keep them in a safe or hidden palace away from view before you leave. You should also bring in any valuables you went outside, such as lawn furniture or bicycles.

4. Ask someone to keep an eye on your home while you're gone: If possible, have someone you trust look after your home while you're gone. It could be your neighbor, friend, or family member. They can keep an eye on things and make sure everything is secure.

5. Pack the essentials: Before your vacation, it is also important to pack the travel essentials before you start your journey. Essentials include your passport if you'll need to go to a foreign country, clothing, purse, and identity card. Make sure everything is well-packed.

6. Preparing for storms: Keep an eye on the news and weather reports to be aware of potential dangers that could affect your home. If a storm or other disaster is heading your way, take steps to secure your home and evacuate if necessary. Close all storm shutters, curtains, and blinds before you leave, and make sure to shut down all the power supply in case of unexpected storms. 

Eight Home Safety Tips WHILE on Vacation 

1. Tell your neighbors or close friends that you'll be gone. So that they can keep an eye on your place while you're away and call the police if they see anything suspicious.

2. Stop your mail and newspaper delivery. Avoid collecting mail or packages for the duration of your vacation. Why? If you have a lot of mail piling up in your mailbox, it's a tell-tale sign that you're not home. And remember, don't put your address on your packages; let them be delivered to a different address. You could arrange to have your mail held at the post office or have a friend pick it up while you're away.

3. Unplug all appliances and electronics. Not only will it save you money on your energy bill, but it will also protect your belongings from power surges. Turn off electricity if you need to leave the house unattended. Shut off Water Valves. Turn Off All Garbage Disposals, Water Pumps, and Wells.

4. Set your thermostat to a reasonable temperature. There's no need to keep your house too cool or too warm while you're away. A moderate temperature will suffice. You could also turn down the heat in your home if necessary.

5. Lock all doors and windows. This one is pretty self-explanatory! Double-check that all doors and windows are safely locked before you leave for vacation.

6. Keep your house from looking empty. If possible, you could have someone park their car in your driveway so it looks like someone is home. It is also a good idea to leave a light on in your home, so it does not look empty. You can also put a timer on your lights to turn on and off at different times, which will also deter burglars from trying to break in.

7 Hire a vacation house sitter. If you're going to be gone for an extended period, it's a good idea to hire a vacation house sitter. This person can stay at your house while you're gone and ensure everything is safe and secure. They can also water your plants and take care of any pets that you may have. If you don't want to hire a house sitter, you can also ask a friend or neighbor to check on your home regularly while you're away.

8 Stay informed. Many resources are available to help you stay up-to-date on the latest news and information in your neighborhood. You can sign up for alerts from your local police department or use a service like Nextdoor to get updates from your neighbors. Additionally, it's a good idea to keep in touch with your neighbors while you're away so they can keep an eye on your property. Check your home security camera system Livestream from time to time to ensure your house security when you are away. 

Home Safety Tips AFTER You Get home

When you get home from vacation, you should first inspect the outside of your home for any signs of forced entry. You should also check all the doors and windows to ensure they're still well-locked. If you see anything suspicious, contact the police immediately. Once you've made sure your home is safe, take a few minutes to unpack and put away all your belongings. This will help you avoid losing anything and make it easier to find things when you need them. Then, take some time to review your home security system and make sure everything is working properly. You should also check the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to ensure they are working. Don't forget to look around your property to see if anything is missing or out of place. Finally, you should look outside to see if there's anything that needs to be fixed or cleaned up.

You can protect your home and enjoy your vacation by taking these simple steps.