Ways to Protect Your Home While on Vacation

As you prepare for a vacation this summer, don’t forget to prepare your house as well! While it’s easy to believe that you won’t be a victim of a home burglary, unfortunately they do occur everywhere in the U.S. To help you keep your home safe and secure while on vacation this summer, the team at Farmington Insurance Agency has put together this list of ways to protect your home.

Ways to protect your home while on vacation this summer:

• Create an illusion that the house is not actually vacant. Since lights and other signs of people can often deter burglars from entering a home, consider installing timers on a lamp or two in your home. These can help make it seem like the house is not empty while you are away, while still not wasting too much electricity since the lights will turn on and off at set times each day. If possible, it is also a good idea to use a timer for outdoor porch and driveway lights as well to light your home at night.
• Alert your mailman that you will be away for a period of time, so that your mail delivery can be stopped. This is also applicable for newspapers and other things that may be delivered to your house. Another option is to ask a friend or neighbor to collect your mail and papers for you. Nothing screams “empty house” like a full mail box and a stack of newspapers in the driveway!
• Don’t advertise that you will be gone. For example, avoid posting on social media sites the dates that your house will be empty.
• If you do not have a home security system installed, it may be a good idea to at least purchase fake alarm signs or stickers. It has been shown that just these signals can be enough to deter burglars!

As you relax and enjoy your summer, make sure that you are taking the right steps to protect your house first! For more information about protecting your home and your possessions with homeowners insurance, contact our team today.
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