A home should provide a sense of security, even you’re not there. As a homeowner, you want your house and property to be safe from intruders at all times. Real estate agents also have a responsibility to safeguard the properties they’re selling until a new owner can take the keys. Unfortunately, unoccupied houses are prime targets for burglars. Any indication that there’s no one home can become an opportunity for disaster. To prevent the headache and heartache caused by break-ins and burglary, it’s important for anyone responsible for a home to know how to protect it.
Keeping your property protected while it’s empty or you’re away doesn’t have to be complicated, however. By following a few simple steps, you can ensure that the risk of a break-in will be minimized. Here are six tips you can use to make your house less vulnerable.
- Don’t Publicize Your Absence
Whenever we go on vacation, most of us use social media to share photos with friends and family. However, our loved ones may not be the only ones anxious to know our plans. Posting pictures, videos or status updates from out of town can unwittingly alert criminals that your home is ripe for the picking. This is why you should make it a habit to wait until you return before you share anything about your trip.
- Keep Everything Locked
This might seem like the most obvious piece of advice, but it stands to be repeated. Before you leave, check that all your doors and windows are closed and locked. If you’re expecting deliveries or visitors, don’t leave keys under your doormat or anywhere else. Experienced burglars know every hiding place imaginable. Instead, consider investing in a lock that you can secure and unlock from your smartphone. Realtors showing homes to prospective buyers should keep keys inside a lockbox with a combination.
- Use Timers for Lights and TVs
A house that’s dark at all hours puts out a welcome mat for thieves. This is why plugging your lamps and televisions into automatic timers can be a powerful deterrent. Most modern options can randomize the times they activate, which prevents anyone staking out your street from discerning the schedule.
- Put Your Mail on Hold
If you expect to be gone for more than a few days, it’s a good idea to suspend your mail service and newspaper delivery. You can visit the U.S. Postal Service website and request that your mail be put on hold for up to 30 days. That way, you’ll avoid your mailbox filling up and sending a clear signal to those with sinister intentions.
- Install Security Cameras
Modern technology makes security cameras easier to use, more accessible and more affordable than ever. By strategically placing a few around your property, you could deter a burglar before he or she even sets foot there. Depending on the system you choose, you may be able to monitor a live stream from the cameras on your phone or another connected device. Video-equipped smart doorbells also can alert you if someone approaches your front door.
- Ask a Friend or Neighbor to Keep an Eye Out
Having someone you trust watch out for your house can make a huge difference. That’s especially true if that friend, relative or neighbor is able to bring in your mail, mow your lawn or take your garbage cans in or out. Just keeping up the appearance that someone is watching can prevent your home from a being targeted by burglars.
When your house is broken into, it can shatter your sense of security. Fortunately, it only requires a little forethought and a few simple precautions to keep your property off a criminal’s wish list. Follow these tips and you’ll be able to rest easier when you’re away.
Michael Epperson is the owner and operator of Locksmith Express and has been a trusted locksmith with for over 30 years.
