If you plan to be away from home for an extended period of time, it is important to insure your home. You will not be able to enjoy your family vacation, focus on the business meeting, or feel relaxed while visiting relatives, if the idea that your home is being violated is always in the back of your mind. There are many things you can do before you leave, as well as things you can arrange for a third party to do, that will ensure that your home, property, and pets are safe.

The most important concern for a homeowner is that their home does not appear unoccupied while they are away.

Statistics report that typically one house is burglarized every 12

seconds. It is important that you leave the curtains open when

you go. Closed curtains indicate a vacant house. You can also buy light timers. They will turn different lights on and off in your home throughout the day until you return from your trip. Investing in outdoor motion sensor lights is also good. For added protection, you may want to keep a radio on somewhere in the main part of the house. The volume doesn’t need to be very loud, just loud enough to fool an intruder. It is also good to have an alarm system. Make sure it’s on when you leave.

Do not leave house keys under rocks or planters around your

House. Make sure to remove all of them before your departure.

Never leave a message on your phone that you are out. That is to say

Just asking for an intruder.

You should also be aware that your lawn can also give signals

that he is far away and his house is empty. if you go

During the warmer months, cut the grass before leaving. Arrange ahead of time for someone to come and mow your lawn while you are away too. It’s also good to cut down plants or shrubs that would provide a good place for an intruder to hide or lurk behind. If you live in a cold climate and it is winter, be sure to arrange for someone you trust to come shovel snow while you are away. Nothing hints that no one is home more than a driveway and sidewalk piling up under 6 feet of snow. If it is pool season, arrange for someone to clean your pool while you are away.

Make sure all work buildings or outside sheds are closed.

Lawnmowers, bicycles, and tools must be secured indoors. This

important that you do not leave your garage door opener inside

any vehicle that will be left in the driveway. You can even

arrange for someone to move your vehicles periodically into your driveway to give your home a home-like look. Check all windows before leaving, as well as exterior doors. Door latches and keyed window locks are the safest. Just be sure to remove the keys from the window locks before your trip. Do not forget your skylights, or the small skylights that may be in your bathroom. If an area is small enough to fit a head, it must have a padlock.

You need to contact your local post office and have all mail held there until your return. Also cancel all newspaper subscriptions. This is not an uncommon practice and it will ensure that no papers pile up on your walk or mail spill out of your box. That is an open invitation to an intruder.

It is also important that you be careful during informal conversation with the clerk in the store, dry cleaners, clubs,

etc. Do not let anyone in the general public know that you are

planning a trip. You never know who may be listening. This

It is also important that you do not include your address in your luggage. You would be surprised how many houses are burglarized because a would-be thief saw your address in your luggage at the airport. They just follow him to the gate and ransack his house that night.

You can contact your local law enforcement office and let them

know that you’re going to be far away. Give them the dates of when you will be leaving and when you will return. They will provide a patrol unit to stop by your home every day and keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. If you

the neighborhood has a neighborhood watch program have your home

listed as one of the houses that needs to be watched.

It’s a good idea to also take an inventory of your valuables, with serial numbers and model numbers when possible. Is

the information is useful if you ever have to present insurance

claim for theft.

It is important that you make the necessary arrangements regarding any pets you may have. You can house them in a shelter, if necessary, although the comfort and care of your pet should always be considered. It will be unsettling for your pet to be separated from you, make sure their temporary home is as loving and comfortable as possible. No family pet should be kept in a cage for an extended period of time. Make sure you leave your pet with someone who is an animal lover and is not in the kennel business out of greed. You should never forget the goldfish in the tank or the plants in your home. It would be sad to come home to a floating fish and dead plants. You may want to make arrangements in advance for someone to come to your home to care for these other special family members.

Before leaving it is important that you go through the

refrigerator and discard any product that has gone bad.

Before you come home You should reduce the temperature of the water heater to a lower temperature, as well as the

thermostat on any central heat and air unit you may have.

Make sure all outdoor water hoses are disconnected if it is the winter season, it will help prevent your pipes from bursting in extremely cold weather. It is also important that you check all smoke detectors to verify that they are working properly.

An option you may want to check out that will give you

peace of mind is a house keeper. This is a person who comes and takes care of all the things mentioned above and stays at your home while you are away. Your pets will be able to stay in their own environment, the plants will be watered, the pool will be cleaned, the mail will be checked, the lawn will be mowed, etc. The house keeper’s voice will be heard at the end of the phone line when a would-be burglar calls to see if someone is home. You will be the house keeper who you see coming and going from your house regularly if your house is under surveillance by a future burglar. The presence of the house keeper is the number one deterrent against burglars.

A home sitter can also provide invaluable services such as

forward faxes to you if you have a home business and need to address an urgent matter. They can also provide immediate care to your home if there is ever an emergency.

Home sitters are the best thing to do with your pets. They can take your furry friends to their scheduled check-ups and treat them if they get sick or hurt. They can also bathe, feed, and care for them until you get home. You can also leave a shopping list with your babysitter. When you return home, you will have a pantry and refrigerator stocked with food, and you won’t have to worry about that dreaded chore when you return. A house keeper can also be in charge of performing any prearranged services needed on your vehicles or at your home while you are away. Above all, the main service a home sitter provides is that you can call home and see how your home is doing.

There is no greater feeling than having tranquility and being able to enjoy your time away from home. The only feeling that can match that is coming home to find that your home is still intact, your pets are fine, and your valuables are where you left them. You can’t leave the house without someone watching your house. Gone is the day when everyone left their doors unlocked. Make sure you do everything you can to make sure your home, pets, and belongings are well protected while you are away.