The last thing you want to be doing when you're away on
holiday or just for the weekend is worrying about your home, that's why home security is very important, especially when you're not there. There
would be nothing worse than arriving home after a lovely break away to then
have to deal with a break in or damage due to flooding or fire. If you're not
in the property, even a small leak can cause a huge amount of damage if it's
not spotted and dealt with quickly.
There are plenty of measures you can take though, to ensure
your home is as safe as possible. Here are a few practical tips:
1.
Firstly, make sure your house doesn't look
empty. If you're going away for an extended period of time, make sure your
hedges are trimmed and your garden is tidy. If it looks overgrown, it could
look like it isn't lived in, making it more appealing to potential burglars as
there's less risk of being caught. They can loot at their leisure safe in the
knowledge that they won't be disturbed. Remember that scene from 'Home Alone', when Macaulay Culkin makes it appear as if there's a Christmas party going on? Well, something like that!
2.
It's a good idea to ask a neighbour to keep an eye on your
property. If you have a glass fronted door, an obvious build up of post is
another sure sign that the house isn't occupied. If you can have someone pop
round and move it out of sight then this would really help. Also ask them to
have a quick look round every room, so if the roof has sprung a leak or
something else is amiss, it can be spotted and dealt with before it becomes a
bigger issue.
3.
If you're taking your car with you, you could also offer
your drive as a parking space for a neighbour. A car in the drive will make the
property look occupied. If parking is tricky on your street then someone might
be very appreciative of your offer too. If you're leaving your car behind while
you go away, make sure you don't leave the keys in view of a window. Car theft
after keys have been stolen from a house is very common.
4.
Before you go away write a check list so you don't forget to
do anything. Make sure all the doors and windows are locked and check that all
taps are off. Turn off all plug sockets that aren't needed and you're reducing
the risk of an electrical fire. It's also a good idea to check your insurance
is valid and gives you good coverage, just in case something should happen
while you're away.
5.
Having the lights off in the house on a dark evening can also
be a bit of a giveaway that the property is vacant. You could invest in a timer
switch for your lights so they come on and turn off replicating normal use. You
could also consider installing a security system. This may be a simple burglar
alarm, or it may include cameras within your property so you can monitor what
is going on while you're away. Being able to check on your house remotely via
the internet can be very reassuring. You may only be watching the cats
sleeping, but you might see flood water creeping in. You can then call someone
to sort out the problem for you asap; just make sure someone has a spare set of
keys in case of emergency.
