Introduction
With the summer holidays in full swing, it’s highly likely that the majority of households will be going on holiday this summer, leaving your home unoccupied for a matter of weeks. In order to enjoy your holiday and leave the stress of everyday life at home, it is crucial that you place your home security as a top priority before heading away. Therefore, we’re sharing 5 easy and effective tips that you can follow to deter intruders and keep your home as safe as possible while it’s unoccupied.
Invest In a Security System
A front door makes up one of the first barriers of defence in any home, it’s therefore crucial that you place your door security as a priority in order to deter intruders. There are multiple layers of security that can be enhanced to heighten the security of a door, one of the most important being a good quality locking system. A multipoint locking system is recommended as it has multiple deadbolt locks along the frame of the door to offer maximum strength.
Furthermore, cameras are an essential component of an effective security system. Not only will the sight of cameras alone deter intruders but they can be used to continuously monitor your properties exterior and interior to identify intruders or suspicious activity. Many camera systems use modern technology to provide access through mobile devices, this means that your property can be monitored remotely and footage will be recorded, which can be helpful in the event of a burglary.
Finally, motion sensors are an effective tool for detecting intruders inside or around your property as they pick up even the slightest of movement. No matter how advanced a camera security system is, it will always contain blind spots that aren’t visible on camera, therefore, a motion sensor is perfect for detecting movement in these blind spots and alerting homeowners accordingly.
Make Your Home Appear Occupied
When properties appear unoccupied it heightens the risk of intruders, therefore, your home is placed at higher risk of burglary when you’re on holiday. To minimise the risk of intruders you can make your home appear occupied using some simple tricks. Firstly, the most obvious and straightforward trick would be to leave a car on the driveway, this instantly puts off intruders as they believe someone is home.
Another great hack is to place your lights on a timer to turn on for a few hours on an evening. A smart lighting system is best as it can be accessed remotely and controlled by the click of a button. It is recommended that homeowners use LED lights to reduce energy wastage and the lighting costs.
One of the most obvious tricks for imitating an occupied home is to create noise. This can be done by setting a radio on a timer for short periods of time during the day. If your radio doesn’t have a timer setting then you can use a timer plug extension to automatically turn it on.
Store Valuables Securely
To avoid burglary, it is important for all valuables to be stored away securely or placed in a discreet location away from windows and doors. This is especially important for extremely valuable or sentimental objects that can’t be replaced. To ensure that items remain secure they can be placed in a locked safe at all times, especially when on holiday or out of the house.
Prepare Your Homes Exterior
Finally, when going on holiday it is just as important to protect your home’s exterior and garden. Commonly, many homeowners spend so much time protecting their home’s interior and neglect their outdoor assets like sheds, garages and valuable garden tools.
Remember to put away all valuable garden tools and equipment like lawn mowers, strimmer’s, bikes and so on. These make the perfect attraction for burglars, especially as they won’t have to enter your home to take them.
Place your garden equipment in a secure location like sheds, garages and garden rooms and ensure that they are securely locked using a heavy-duty lock. In addition, it is important to move any valuable items away from windows and doors and keep them hidden or covered if possible.
Lastly, sealing the door and window frames of your shed or garage with a waterproof barrier helps block moisture and prevent potential rot, protecting the structure from weather-related wear and tear.
Insurance
In the unfortunate event that your home is broken into while you are on holiday it is crucial that you have an appropriate insurance plan in place to cover the cost of damages and stolen items. Always double check your policy before going on holiday to ensure that it is up to date and if you’re not currently insured then put a plan in place before your trip
Summary
Going on holiday is a fun and enjoyable experience, however, it can be easily ruined if your home is poorly protected. Always place your security as a priority when going on holiday and ensure that you have the necessary insurance in place to deal with any issues if they do occur.
