Going away for the holidays? Protect your home while you are away for the holidays with these simple, but effective, anti-burglar precautions.
If you have a security system for your home, that is great; if you don’t, there are still many ways to prevent a burglary from happening to you. Don’t let the excitement of the holiday season make you forget
1. PUT YOUR LADDERS AWAY
With all the Christmas decorating you’ve been doing, you may have forgotten to put away the ladder. Leaving a ladder out provides the perfect opportunity for a burglar to access your 2nd and 3rd floors. Regardless, you should always remember to lock and secure upper floor windows. Just because you put away your ladder doesn’t mean that the burglar won’t bring their own.
2. KEEP POTENTIAL INTRUDERS FROM PEEPING IN
If you have an alarm system, make sure that it can’t be seen from outside. If you have anything valuable make sure it is out of plain sight. A clearly visible laptop or iPad is reason enough for someone to break and enter. Take a walk around your house and peer inside. Can you see anything that could tempt someone?
3. HAVE SECURITY LIGHTS INSTALLED
Lighting up the exterior of your house is essential for preventing a home break-in. Motion sensors are great but they should an add-on to other landscape lighting. Not only does landscape lighting accentuate the beautiful features of your home like columns, bushes/shrubs, and trees, but it also deters would be thieves. Check out our electrician page for more information.
Source: Bill Beazley Homes
You can install a random vacation light timer from Smarthome which will turn on lights, radios, and tvs at random intervals from 9 to 34 minutes. Here are 5 other products that allow you to turn on your lights while away from home.
4. HIDE YOU VALUABLES
The best thing you can do it buy a fireproof safe for your precious items. Other tactics for hiding jewelry and other valuables include: a carved out book, coffee grinds, a tampon box, buried outside or in a potted plant, or this cool fake outlet.
5. FIND A BETTER SPOT FOR THAT SPARE KEY
If you keep your spare key underneath the mat or potted plant, chances are that if I can guess, a burglar can too. Use your imagination and find a good spot for that spare key. Oh, and not on the top ledge of the door either.
Source: amazon.com/Stalwart
Protect your home from plumbing disasters as well! The best way to prevent leaks and burst pipes while away from home is to turn off the main water supply valve and leaving all the faucets open to drain out the remainder of the water. If you have a basement, this valve will usually be located near front of the house. Otherwise check next to your water heater or in the garage. It is possible that your main water valve is located outside underneath a cement box buried in the ground. Check near the curb in the grass. If you have trouble locating your main water supply valve, call your local plumber.
If you have any questions about security lighting, preventing plumbing problems, or winter maintenance, pick up the phone and call the experts at Boulden Brothers Home Service at (302) 368-3848.
We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer any questions you might have.
To contact us, you can fill out an online form or send us a message on Facebook and Twitter.
Everyone here at Boulden Brothers wishes you a safe, warm, and happy holiday! Merry Christmas!
