July and August are hot summer months for swimming, barbeques, and vacations. Did you know more break-ins occur during July and August too? Keep your home safe and secure while you are away this summer with these ten tips for home security from Old Dominion Realty. Knowing your home is well-secured and under proper care allows you to simply relax and enjoy your time away.
While it may sound silly, but an unlocked door or window is a common entry source for potential burglars. Secure all your exterior doors with a deadbolt at least one-inch thick. Install locks on all your windows. Prevent your sliding glass door from being broken into by placing a metal bar in the bottom sliding track and secure the opposite end against the door jam on a diagonal. Of course, remember to lock your doors and windows before leaving for vacation.
Your neighbors are often a great line of defense when it comes to home security. Ask your neighbor to help while you are away. Neighbors can hold a spare key and alarm codes for emergencies, keep an eye on your home, pick up your mail or newspapers, and water your plants.
Keeping your pets at home under the care of a pet sitter or a house sitter may increase home security. A sitter helps make it look lived in and helps your pets stay secure in their own environment. Also, dogs act as a natural burglar deterrent when they bark alerting neighbors to intruders.
It is important to make your home appear lived in while you are on vacation. If you are not using a house sitter or employing the help of a neighbor, there are additional home security measures to follow. Install timers to turn on the lights, televisions, and radios. Invite your neighbors to park in your driveway. Allow your A/C to run on its lowest setting or use a programmable thermostat to switch it on and off throughout the day.
Contact your local Post Office to stop mail delivery while you are away.
In today's digital world, we often post our plans online without a second thought. Avoid mentioning your vacation plans on social media. After all, you do not want to advertise a vulnerability in your home security.
Your alarm is a key tool in home security. Make sure it is set before leaving and make your monitoring company aware you will be out of town.
Closing all your blinds and curtains could indicate you are away from home. Keep things looking normal by positioning window treatments as you normally do during the day.
An unkempt lawn is a key sign that your home is unoccupied. Keep your home safe by hiring someone to take care of the yard while you are on vacation.
Don't forget to unplug your electronic garage door opener before leaving for vacation. This makes it difficult for a burglar to use a universal remote to enter your home. Unplug electronic devices--like the television--to protect them from power surges.
Contact Old Dominion Realty to find homes for sale in eastern West Virginia and the central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.