No Vacancies for Vandals
Spring and summer travel times are fast approaching! If you're planning on taking a vacation, remember that an empty home can be an easy target for vandals and thieves. Protect your home with these tips:
- Limit utility use - Turning off the air conditioning and shutting off the water supply can reduce your risk of trouble while no one's home. But avoid turning off the heat in cold climates, because it can lead to frozen pipes which can cause unnecessary damage.
- Clean up and seal up - Trimming low tree branches, cleaning out gutters and sealing up windows and doors can protect your home from common problems like insects and wet basements.
- Hand over a key - A friend of family member can be great resource for help with exterior maintenance (lawn mowing, snow blowing the driveway, picking up the newspapers or other deliveries), as well as checking the interior of your home. Having someone periodically walk through your home will help identify potential problems before they become huge headaches.
- Install variable light times - Lights turn on at varying times (think: not the same time every day) give your home a more lived-in look and make it harder for potential vandals to target your home.
- Hold your mail - Visit your local post office in person or online to use the hold mail service. You can request a hold up to 30 days before your departure or as little as one day prior to leaving.1
- Consider a security or surveillance system - While not a practical solution in all cases, installing an alarmed security system or video surveillance with remote-activated deterrents can slow down would-be thieves and vandals.
1 United States Post Office. Request Hold Mail
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