Home Safety in the Summer

Going away on summer vacation? Enjoy your trip without worrying about your home while you are away. See the tips below on how to keep your home safe and sound while you enjoy your vacation!

1. House Sitter - If possible, have a trusted friend or relative stay at your home to keep an eye on the premises, pick up the mail and water the plants.

2. Hold Mail - Put a hold on your mail so it doesn't give away your absence. Same with your newspapers! Most areas let you put a hold request over the phone or online.

3. Alert the Neighbors - If you have a trusted neighbor, ask them to occasionally check the home to remove any solicitation fliers, packages or debris that could give you away as being out of town. Ask them to take your garbage can to the street as you normally would.

4. Hire Landscaper - If you are going to be away for a while and your yard is likely to get overgrown - this could be a dead giveaway to someone looking for empty houses to target. It's worth hiring a landscaper to make sure your lawn stays trim and tidy.

5. Remove Key - Remove your spare key from outside. Don't leave anything under the mat or behind a fake rock - burglars know what to look for.

6. Keep Quiet - Don't promote your travel plans on social media. Without the proper privacy settings, robbers can use that information to determine when your home will be unattended.

7. Alert the Police - Let your local police know about your travel plans. They can drive by your home just to make sure that all is well and give you some added peace of mind.

Enjoy your vacations this Summer!