Are you preparing for a big family vacation this summer? Whether you plan on heading out to your cabin on Lake Winnebago or you’re heading out of Wisconsin in favor of a more tropical climate, it’s important that you think ahead about home security. Empty homes are an easy target for thieves, and even if you’ve invested in comprehensive home insurance, you could still be a target. However, there are a few important preventative steps that you can take to help deter would-be burglars and keep their valuables safe while your away on vacation. Keep reading to learn more and help give yourself peace of mind as you and your loved ones travel this summer.
How to Protect Your Home While You’re Away on Vacation
1. Invest in a Home Security System
One of the best ways to scare off burglars from targeting your home is to set up a home security system. Studies show that 60% of burglars were spooked by the signs of an alarm system when canvassing neighborhoods, and if they did see cameras, they would move on to other homes in the area instead. And one of the biggest perks of investing in a modern home security system is the fact that you can enjoy remote monitoring capabilities. Meaning that you can peak into what’s going on in and around your home from a smartphone or tablet.
2. Don’t Pause Home Maintenance
If you have a regular landscaping team of pool service that comes by each month, be sure to keep up with your regularly scheduled visits. An unkempt yard or drained swimming pool are easy signs that your home has been left unprotected.
3. Enlist the Help of Family and Friends
If you have a trusted neighbor that lives nearby or a family member that’s willing to visit your home a few times each week, give them a key so that they can bring packages and mail inside, water your plants, and generally help to make your home looked lived in while you’re away.
4. Stop Mail and Newspaper Deliveries
A growing pile of newspapers or delivery packages are a sure sign that no one is home, so plan ahead! While it can be difficult to stop all packages that may be on their way to your home, you can certainly pause your regular mail and newspaper deliveries when you’re out of town.
5. Remove Your Hide-a-Key
Many Wisconsin homeowners leave a hide-a-key somewhere on their property for emergencies. And while, that’s fine under normal circumstances, when no one will be returning to your home for days or weeks on end, this could be a huge problem. If you have a hidden key sitting out somewhere on your property, you can bet that a determined thief will find it.
6. Disconnect Your Garage Door
Even with the best system in place, there’s a chance that a hacker could infiltrate your automatic garage door system. In fact, some garage door openers can actually be opened by a universal remote! Be proactive and disconnect your automatic garage door opener to keep your valuables safe from tech-savvy burglars.
Protect Your Home with Insurance Innovations, Inc
Interested in learning more about the benefits of better home security? Don’t get caught without the right level of home insurance protection when you need it most. Instead, invest in total insurance protection with Insurance Innovations, Inc. Call (262) 643-4020 for more information or contact us online today and request a free quote.
