Beaches, Bikinis, and Burglars, Oh My!

The warm weather is here and it will officially be summer in just about a blink of the eye.  In some places, the kids are already out of school and in others they will be on summer vacation very shortly.  This is the time of backyard barbecues and pool parties and it is also the biggest time of the year for families to go on vacation.  You’re already packing your bags and planning all the great adventures that await you.  But, while you may be ready to head off for fun in the sun, is your home ready?  There is nothing worse than going on a fabulous vacation only to have your bliss ruined by finding your home was broken into while you were gone.  You are off making treasured memories while your treasures at home are going up in smoke in a house fire.  Before you board that plane and ride off for vacation, make sure you and your home are protected. 

First and foremost, the safest way to make sure your home is protected is to make it seem like someone is home.  Leave lights, a radio, or a television set on a timer so that your home appears to have the same light, sound, and movement as when you are home.  Also, nothing says nobody’s home more than when the mail or newspapers pile up, so make arrangements for someone to pick up for you or have your service held while you are away.  It is also best to have a friend swing by and just keep an eye on the place and to alert your alarm company while you are gone.  To prevent the possibility of fires, make sure appliances not being used on timers are unplugged and always keep important documents and valuables in a fireproof safe just in case.  Probably one of the best ways to protect your home is to not advertise that you are away, especially on social media.  You may trust your friends but what about that random friend of a friend of a friend that just read that post that your house is empty.  Who knows who will see your post, so the best thing to do is to not talk about your vacation until you get back and share all the photos.  Now that your home is ready for vacation, pack your bags, have fun, and remember, what happens on vacation stays on vacation.