Preventing Home Emergencies While You're Away: Tips for Travelers

Summer vacations are a time for rest, exploration, and creating treasured memories with family and friends. However, when you plan your well-deserved vacation, don't forget about the safety and security of your home. 

The last thing you want is to return home from a relaxing vacation to find your home has been broken into or damaged due to carelessness. This guide will walk you through the necessary measures to guarantee your home is safe and secure while you're away. 

Lock Up Securely

Walk through your home and thoroughly check all doors and windows. Don't forget the front and back doors, sliding glass doors, basement windows, and any additional points of entry. 

Check that each one is properly locked and latched. Consider adding deadbolt locks and security hinges to your entry points. Deadbolts are more difficult for burglars to exploit than conventional locks.

Sliding glass doors are vulnerable because they can be pulled off their tracks. Place a piece of wood or a metal rod in the track to prevent the door from sliding open. Don't overlook outbuildings such as your shed or garage. These places often include useful tools and equipment. Consider installing motion-activated lights and locking them securely.

Say No to Spare Keys

Resist the urge to hide spare keys behind doormats, plant pots, or artificial rocks. These are the first places where robbers look. Instead, provide a spare key to a trustworthy neighbor or family member.

Secure Sliding Doors and Windows

Sliding glass doors are a popular target for robbers. In addition to a rod in the track, you can install secondary locks built specifically for sliding doors.

Consider placing additional locks or pins on your windows. These can add an additional degree of security and peace of mind.

Use Light Timers

Strategic Lighting: Use light timers to give the appearance that someone is at home. Install timers on all indoor and outdoor lighting, including porch lights. Set them to turn on at different times during the evening to simulate ordinary family activities.

Motion-Activated Lights: Place motion-activated lights near doorways, driveways, and other potential access points. These lights have the potential to frighten intruders and call attention to any unusual behavior.

Newspapers and the Mail

Request a mail-hold service from your local post office for the duration of your vacation. This service ensures that your mail is not delivered while you are gone, preventing a backlog of mail.

If you subscribe to newspapers or receive parcels on a regular basis, you should cancel these services or arrange for a friend to collect them on your behalf. An unoccupied house will have accumulated newspapers or packages.

Drapes and Blinds

While it's important to make your home appear occupied, closing all shades and drapes entirely can make it obvious that you're away. To retain a sense of normalcy, leave some half open. Consider investing in remote-controlled smart blinds or drapes.

Choose a trustworthy friend, neighbor, or family member to conduct regular checks on your home. Give them a spare key, an alarm code, and instructions on what they should look for during their visits.

In addition to security checks, these dependable workers can water your plants, collect mail, and ensure your property is well-kept.

Inventory Your Assets

Make a detailed inventory of your valuable possessions. Include full descriptions, pictures, and serial numbers, if appropriate. This inventory will be extremely useful for insurance claims in the event of theft or damage.

Consider storing exceptionally precious goods, such as jewelry, essential documents, and cash, in a bank's safety deposit box. While it may be a minor expense, it is a prudent investment when contrasted with the possible loss in the event of a break-in.

Firearms Security

If you own firearms, make sure that they are stored in accordance with local laws and regulations. Using lockable cabinets or safes, trigger locks, and appropriate ammunition storage are all examples of this.

Create a List of Emergency Contacts

Keep the phone numbers for local emergency services, such as the police, fire department, and medical services, on the top of your list. In the event of a serious emergency, such as a break-in, fire, or medical crisis in your house, you can swiftly contact the proper authorities.

Contact information for reputable neighbors who can help with small difficulties or keep an eye on your property should be included. They can be extremely useful in situations such as power outages, suspicious activities, or simply checking on your property during severe weather.

Include the contact information for any close family members or friends that reside nearby. They can assist in coordinating responses to emergencies and repairs, such as checking on your property or assisting you.

If you rent your house, know who your property manager or landlord is. They can handle any structural or maintenance issues that develop while you're abroad.

Also, add your homeowner's insurance company's contact information. In the unfortunate case of a calamity, you must begin the claims process as soon as possible.

Turn off Unnecessary Appliances

Unplug any non-essential equipment, including laptops, televisions, game consoles, and chargers. Many gadgets drain a small amount of standby power even when turned off, which is known as "phantom power." Unplugging them reduces wasteful energy usage and the risk of electrical failure.

Unplug appliances such as coffee makers, toasters, and microwave ovens in the kitchen. While unplugging these appliances does not constitute a severe fire risk, it does eliminate the possibility of overheating or short circuits.

Unplugging big appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, and dishwashers completely may result in food spoiling or defrosting. You can, however, change their settings to save energy. Set your refrigerator and freezer to the most energy-efficient settings possible, and consider finishing your perishable food.

Make adjustments to your heating and cooling system to save energy while keeping a comfortable temperature in your house. Lower the thermostat in the winter to prevent frozen pipes, and raise it a few degrees in the summer to your typical comfort level.

Check for Plumbing Leaks

Check the area surrounding the base of your toilets and under sinks and faucets. Do not simply assume that any drips or puddles will go away when you are sipping pia coladas on a beach. Prepare them before you go.

Think about cutting off your home's main water supply before closing the front door.  Nobody wants to return home to that drenched mess, right?

For added security, ask a friend or neighbor who is helping out while you're away to run a little water. It keeps your plumbing system operating smoothly.

Always keep in mind that leaks sometimes go undetected and cause silent problems. But it's time to look into anything if you notice a sudden increase in your water bill.

Set the Thermostat

Consider your heating system if you're traveling during the winter. Set your thermostat to a comfortable but not oppressive level of warmth. It should be around 55–60°F (13–15°C), which should be fine. It's not too hot that your house thinks you're having an unexpected beach party, but it's warm enough to prevent freezing.

If you are going on a vacation during summer, you should set the thermostat to a cooler temperature. You should be able to reduce your cooling expenditures by keeping the temperature between 80 and 85°F (approximately 26 and 29°C). You save money and the environment benefits. 

Smart Home Gadgets

Ever halfway to your holiday location and wondered, "Did I lock the door?"? You're covered by smart locks. With a tap on your smartphone, you may remotely lock or open your doors. They can also alert you if someone tries to interfere with them by sending you notifications. It is like having a personal doorman.

Want to monitor activity? You can check on your property using a smartphone camera. Some of them can even send you notifications if something is wrong and even include motion sensors. You can feel secure and see any unexpected guests.

We just talked about plumbing leaks— Automatic Leak Detectors are devices that can detect the smallest droplets and alert you to them. In this manner, you can deal with the problem before it worsens into a flood.

Have Necessary Insurance Coverage

It's crucial to comprehend your homeowners' insurance coverage in detail before you leave on your trip. The structure of your home, your personal property, liability protection, and additional living expenses in the event that your home is rendered uninhabitable as a result of a covered disaster are all covered by this insurance.

Your house can be exposed to a variety of dangers while you're gone, such as burglary, vandalism, fire, water damage, or natural disasters. If any of these occurrences take place while you are away, having comprehensive homeowners insurance in place guarantees that you will be protected financially.

Liability coverage is another benefit of having homeowners insurance, and it can be quite important if someone is hurt while you're gone on your property. You may be protected by this insurance from litigation and associated costs.

Conclusion

The experience of traveling should be pleasurable and stress-free. You can considerably lower the likelihood of returning to an unpleasant surprise by taking these steps and being ready for potential home crises. 

Remember that managing home emergencies while you're on your trip requires careful planning and effective communication. By keeping these suggestions in mind, you can leave your trip stress-free, knowing that your house is in good hands. Travel safely!