- Insurance: Auto, Home,
Life & More
-
- Tools & Advice
- Common Insurance Questions
- Auto Insurance Discounts
- Add a Teen Driver
- Learning Center
- Home Inventory Checklist
- Life Insurance Calculator
- Identity Protection
- Quick Links
- Get Insurance Quotes
- Find an Agent
- Manage Your Policy
- Payment Options
- Claims Center
- Repair Facility Locator
- Welcome Center
-
- Mutual Funds: Save, Invest
& Plan
-
- Start Planning
- General Investing
- Education Savings
- Retirement Accounts
- Small Business Plans
- Rollovers & Transfers
- Fund Information
- Life Path® Funds
- Stock & Index Funds
- Bond & Money Market Funds
- Fund Performance
- Fund Prices
- Fund Selection Tool
- Quick Links
- Open an Account
- Manage Your Account
- Investing Resources
- Account Help
- Find an Agent
- Contact Us
-
- State Farm Bank® Full Service Financial
You’ve packed up your suitcase and planned your itinerary, but before you leave for vacation, take the time to protect your home while you’re away. July and August are popular vacation months, and not surprisingly, they’re also the months when home burglaries peak. To fully enjoy your trip, plan appropriate home security and maintenance with this checklist.
Inside The House
Set timers on interior lights: This goes a long way in deterring burglars, who often look for crimes of opportunity. Don’t allow your house to appear as if no one is home.
Prevent power surges: You never know if a power surge can occur, so be prepared. Disconnect the computer, TV, stereo, and other electronics, or make sure they are plugged safely into a surge protector.
No status updates: Never broadcast your location on Facebook or Twitter. Even if you think that it’s only your friends or colleagues viewing your online profiles, it’s safest not to leave any sort of opening for a possible burglar.
Alert alarm company: If you have an automatic security system in place, call your representative, announcing you’ll be away from home for an extended period of time. Make sure the alarm is set properly when you leave.
Secure valuables: If you don’t already have your jewelry or other valuables in a safe deposit box, now might be the time to do so. Doing this also ensures that you don’t leave out anything valuable in plain sight that a burglar might be able to see from a window.
HVAC: Set a programmable thermostat to lower your heat or air conditioning usage.
Protect your pipes: Make sure pipes in vulnerable areas such as attics, basements, and crawlspaces are insulated. In unusually cold weather, set your thermostat at 55 degrees or above. Ask a neighbor or trusted friend to stop by and check on the house and periodically turn on the faucets to ensure the pipes don’t freeze.
Lock all doors and windows: It might seem obvious, but double-check just to be sure.
Outside The House
Arrange for lawn care: Have your landscaping tended to by a friendly neighbor or local service. Before you leave, trim tree branches that might allow access to a climbing burglar.
Newspaper and mail: Stop mail and newspaper deliveries, or have them regularly picked up by a neighbor. Again, you don’t want to easily clue in a burglar to your absence by the mounting newspapers on your doorstep.
Exterior lighting: Set these lights on timers as well, to deter burglars.
Don’t leave spare keys outdoors: Collect any hidden spare keys from around the exterior of your home. Remember, burglars know the most popular hiding places, like beneath mats and in potted plants.
Lock up garage: Even if there is no entrance to your house from the garage, there’s still a chance for numerous things to be stolen. Secure the door and any entrances to the garage.
Learning Center Forum Topic
How do you keep your home safe while you are away?
- 3 Comments
- anotherSusan on Jan 17, 2012 1:48 PM
I have left town for an extended stay and returned to find that after being notified of my trip, the post office had put a yellow sign saying VACANT on the outside of my mailbox where anyone could see it. I argued with them and they put it inside my mailbox. Now when I am going out of town, I have a private word with my USPS carrier, who is willing to forego the yellow sign altogether.
- navah16 on Jan 2, 2012 3:28 AM
Generally good comments, but some people think cutting the news paper or even the mail can be a flag if the paper person or mail carrier is getting a bonus from crooks...better to let a neighbor gather for you. Not likely an issue if you know these folks well. Easier with the mail carrier. Papers come early and not much chance to chat.
- youtzssd on Dec 31, 2011 9:07 AM
I found this past summer that the surveillance cameras I had installed saved me a lot of worry. I can view them from my android phone or any computer any time I want. This allows me to see what is going on any time I'm not home.
In addition to the camera system I had an alarm system installed. The combination of security measures allows me to have a worry free vacation far from home.
I never thought of lowering my AC in the summer while on vacation to save a few bucks, but I will be doing it from this point forward. Thanks State Farm!
-
Add Your Comment
Comments come from the public: We do not verify all information shared by those commenting. Except for messages posted by Authorized State Farm Contributors, the comments, opinions, and statements made by public contributors do not necessarily reflect the views, policies or practices of State Farm and are the responsibility of those individuals who created the information.
