3 Ways to Secure Your Home for Holiday Travel
The holiday season is the perfect time to travel and visit loved ones near and far. But, the last thing you want is to return from your trip to find that someone has broken into your home, stolen your valuables, or your packages have been stolen from your front porch. That’s why making sure secure your home before you travel for the holiday is so important.
In this post, we’re going to cover three ways to secure your home while you’re away during the holiday season to help manage your private risk. At the end, we’ll provide you with a PDF resource where you can find even more ways.
Tip #1: Lock Your Doors
This may seem like an obvious one, but you would be surprised at how many people forget to lock their doors before leaving for a trip. Make sure that all windows and doors are locked, including those in the garage and basement. Consider investing in a smart lock that can be controlled with your smartphone. This way, if you forget to lock the door before you leave, you can do it remotely with ease.
If you have a spare key hidden outside, remove it before your trip. Burglars are aware of common hiding spots for spare keys, such as:
- Under doormats
- Inside fake rocks
- In potted plants
Instead, give a spare key to a trusted neighbor or friend who can check on your home while you’re away.
Tip #2: Hide Your Valuables
If a burglar does happen to break into your home, you want to make it difficult for them to find your valuable items. Don’t leave jewelry, cash, or other expensive items lying around in plain sight. Consider investing in a safe and locking up your valuables before you leave. If you don’t have a safe, consider hiding valuables in a location that is difficult to find, such as in a hidden compartment or disguised storage container.
It’s also important to hide any spare keys, such as those to a car or safe. Burglars will often search for spare keys in order to make off with your valuables.
Tip #3: Place a Hold on Packages and Mail
Packages and mail that are left outside for an extended period of time can signal to burglars that nobody is home. This can make your home an easy target for theft. Before leaving for your trip, put a hold on your mail with the postal service. This will prevent any packages or mail from being delivered while you’re away.
If you’re expecting a package, consider having it delivered to a trusted neighbor or friend who can hold onto it for you until you return. Alternatively, have the package delivered to your workplace, where it will be safe until you’re back in town.
More Ways to Secure Your Home for Holiday Travel
Securing your home while you’re traveling this holiday season is essential to protecting your property and possessions. Enjoy your travels with peace of mind knowing that your home is secure by locking your doors, hiding your valuables, and placing a hold on packages and mail. But, that’s not all you can do. In fact, we’ve identified a dozen ways to secure your home for the holiday travel season in our resource, Get Ready for Holiday Travel: Make a Home Safety List and Check it Twice. Feel free to download here:
Home Security and Peace of Mind for the Holidays
Don’t let the fear of burglary ruin your holiday season. Take the necessary precautions to ensure that your home is safe and secure while you’re away. And, if you’re going to post about your holiday vacation on social media, you may want to wait until after you get home. Burnham WGB’s Private Risk team is happy to help provide you peace of mind this holiday season and beyond. Safe travels!
