If you’re going on vacation, or you’re moving and you haven’t sold your home yet, chances are you’re leaving your home vacant or even empty. How can you protect your home while you’re not there against a variety of problems that can arise while you’re going?
Get a Smart or Programmable Thermostat
Programmable thermostats have been around for some time, and allow you to set a program so even while you’re not there, your heat and AC are regulated. This goes a step further by having a “smart” thermostat installed such as the Google Nest which will allow you to keep an eye on your home’s temperatures. It can also self-regulate temperatures for you. Why would you need a smart or programmable thermostat? If you live in an area where it gets cold enough to freeze during the winter, you’ll want to be careful of making sure your pipes don’t freeze. Frozen pipes can mean big money spending to hire a plumber, so avoiding it as best you can will help.
Check Your Home and Make Some Small Upgrades
While many people say that “locks only keep out the honest”, a little bit of touch up around your home and property can help deter would be thieves and squatters. Installing a deadbolt, for example, and using it can help bolster your security on your doors. Making sure your windows lock properly and are actually locked can help as well. Make sure you’re not giving any would be intruders any easy access points to your house. Keep deck boxes and structures that can easily be climbed to test if windows are open are unlocked away from the sides of your home. Many thieves intend to get into a house and get out of it in mere minutes, so the harder you make it for them to enter, the better off you’ll be.
Alert your Neighbors or Have a Local Contact
If you’re going away, let your trustworthy neighbors know. They just might be able to spot suspicious vehicles or people lurking around your home and call in to your local police department about it. You can also tell police directly that you will be away, and if they happen to see any vehicles in your driveway that are not yours while driving by, they can stop and take a look. If you’re on vacation for an extended period of time or you’ll be away, having someone that can stop by once and a while to check and make sure everything is OK in your house is a plus.
Invest in a Security System
Security systems can take many forms, and lots of home automation software can help you keep an eye on not only your home, but the health of it. Items such as Sense can patch into your electrical system to let you know if something goes haywire, whereas Nest can control and report on your home’s temperature. Ring may also help you keep an eye on your front door from afar. You can also just subscribe to a local security company like ADT to help secure your home.
