Before you pack your bags and book your tickets, it is important to secure your home when you go on vacation. Of course, you will want to have your mail stopped and your yard looked after, but it is even more crucial to have your property monitored with an alarm system.
Before you leave, you will want to have your newspaper deliveries stopped. If you have a trusted neighbor or friend, ask them to collect your mail and other deliveries. You may also want to leave a key and the code for your alarm in case of an emergency with a friend or family member. It is also a good idea to turn off the ringers on your phone and turn down the volume on your answering machine. Consider setting up a timing system for inside and outside lights. Set your timers for your radio and television as well. This creates the illusion that your home is occupied, and make sure that you unplug all of your appliances, which could be a fire hazard. Lock your windows and doors, and if you do not have deadbolts, consider investing in one for each door. Sliding doors should be secured with locks and holding bars. During the spring and summer, you will want to arrange to have your lawns mowed and hedges trimmed, especially if you are going to be gone longer than a week. Also, be sure that your homeowners insurance is up to date. If you do not have an alarm, consider finding an alarm company that can monitor your property while you are away.
A good alarm company will install an alarm panel that works with a communications network in a central monitoring center. If something should happen while you are away, the alarm will be triggered by an encoded signal, which is transmitted to the monitoring center. The station processes that data and acts according to the instructions sending the fire or police department to your home immediately. When you contact an alarm company, be sure and make sure that your new system has a back-up battery. A back up is vital if you want to maintain the security of your property if the power goes off.
If you decide to have an alarm installed, do so a week or two before you leave on vacation. This way you and your family can get used to the alarm system.
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