A traveller’s greatest nightmare is to return from his trip only to find his home has been damaged or robbed. Hopefully thefts and disasters aren’t anything you’ll have to worry about but there are definitely things you can do ahead of time to make sure things are better protected .

1. Secure your home

Make doubly sure, before you leave, that all doors and windows are locked and securely fastened. The locks must be of high quality and pick resistant. Pet doors are often forgotten and must also be sealed. Keep in mind that windows are more easily broken, but yet can keep out petty thieves and truant children when properly closed. Do not leave unintentional clues of what lies inside the house, to the burglars, for example, do not leave the box of some expensive home appliance outside the house or near the kitchen windows.

2. Use burglar alarms and other security devices

Burglar alarms can dissuade a burglar trying to make an entry into the house. Make sure the alarms are functioning properly and are turned on. Outdoor sensor lights which turn on with movement can deter crooks from even coming too close to the fence. They’ll second guess messing with the locks and windows when bright spotlights unexpectedly turn on in front and back of your house.

3. Make Sure You Have Quality Home Insurance

Being away on vacation makes your home at higher risk than normal. It’s always best to do a little research and make sure you have the best insurance available. Various insurance companies offer home owners insurance policies to cover the risk of burglary and theft, fire, natural disasters etc. Depending on the policy coverage, insurance will compensate you for the loss you have suffered in the case of any unfortunate event. Home owners are also advised to check and compare home insurance quotes online in order to get the best deal. They are also advised to take a video recording of the contents of the house just before they leave. This will serve as evidence to identify the items lost in case of burglary.

4. Take help from the neighbors

Ask a trustworthy neighbour to keep an eye on the house while you are away. Request him to collect the mail and dailies from the house as these, if uncollected, indicate that the occupants of the house are away. Neighbors are also great for watering forgotten plants, taking care of any pets, or using your swimming pool to make it seem like someone is actually home.

5. Maintain the house as if it was lived in

Always maintain the house in the same condition as if it was lived in. Have the hedges trimmed and the lawns mowed and cleaned. The lights of the house both on the inside and outside may be kept on with timers. Before you leave, ensure that the lights on the street adjacent to your house are working.

6. Install surveillance cameras

This is an expensive option and may not be within every one’s budget. However, there is no doubt that the deterrent value itself of a surveillance system is immense. Modern cameras can even be remotely operated and you can view what is happening in your home in real time.

So remember whether you have your neighbors helps out or do great online research for best contents insurance quotes before you go, you are steps closer to having a safer home this holiday.

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Photo by nataliejohnson on Flickr