How to Safeguard Your Home While Traveling
After a long pause from traveling, you might be thinking that it’s time to take that dusty suitcase out of storage and hit the road again. Whether you have a tropical vacation or a European adventure on your itinerary, getting ready for your trip doesn’t end with packing your bags. You’ll also want to make sure that your home is ready for your extended time away, especially if you are thinking about selling your home soon. If you won’t be hiring a house sitter to take care of your plants and other belongings while you are gone, then you’ll want to take some steps to get your home ready for a vacation too.
Power off
You’ve probably heard that even if you aren’t using your electric appliances and devices if they are plugged in, they are still drawing power. That’s just one of the many reasons to unplug everything that isn’t essential while you are away. That said, automating your lights to come on occasionally is a good way to protect your home while traveling, without wasting electricity.
You should unplug, and if possible, store electronics and appliances safely as you get your house ready for your departure. This isn’t only to save on your electrical bill, if there is a power surge you can also protect your devices and your home.
Tend to your garden
Getting your home ready for a big trip is about keeping it safe, and it can be wise to give an appearance that you are home — even when you aren’t. Nothing says we aren’t home like a tangle of weeds in your yard. If you’ll be gone for several weeks, you’ll want to consider having your gardener stop by. For a shorter trip, give your yard a little TLC before you take off.
Secure valuables
No one wants to think about a home break-in, but the reality is that you just never know what might happen while you are away.
Securing your valuables is a type of insurance that can give you peace of mind while you are enjoying your vacation. If you won’t be taking valuables like jewelry with you, then you might want to invest in a safe inside your home where you can store these items while you are away — or securing them in a safe deposit box.
Going fireproof can take it a step up in case of fire or a natural disaster. Of course, you will feel more at ease if you have jewelry insurance for all your expensive stones and jewels. With this, you can be assured that your investment is safe while you’re away.
Home alone
Even though you won’t be home, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make it look like you are. If your home looks occupied while you are away, it’s more likely to be safe while you are gone.
Timers on lights can give the appearance that you are home, even when you aren’t. This goes for indoor lights and outdoor ones. Timers for an irrigation system can also keep your plants looking their best. Pausing your newspaper and mail can also avoid a pile-up of papers at your front door. Of course, adding a home alarm system can be an investment with a big payoff, especially if you have a lot of travel planned for 2022.
Have a backup plan in place
House robbery is petrifying. Imagine the valuables you spent years of saving taken from you in just a snap of someone’s fingers. Do you know what else is scary? Getting home from a month-long trip and then finding out that you lost your keys. It may not come close to being robbed, but not being able to enter your home for a well-deserved rest after a long trip is a major inconvenience. You can avoid the situation by learning how to pick locks and bringing the best locksmith tools and kits with you at all times.
Final thoughts
Getting back to traveling can be exciting, but before you get ready to leave, making some preparations for your home now can give you peace of mind so you can enjoy your trip more.