Keeping Your Home Safe while on Vacation

Most people look forward to summer vacation. This is when they can leave their worries behind, and get a chance to relax for a change. But remember, you must also prepare your home for your absence. If you do not, you could be making it a potential target for burglars who love to hit homes that are unoccupied.

Every year, approximately 5 millions homes are victimized by burglars while on vacation. The FBI has reported that more burglaries occur during July and August than any other months.

Fortunately, nine out of every 10 home break-ins can be prevented if the homeowner is willing to take the proper steps. And with the average break-in costing homeowner's nearly $1,300, everybody should be interested in learning how they can avoid becoming a statistic.

The best way to keep your home safe while on vacation is to make it look like you are home. You can do this in many ways, and the tips below should help to point you in the right direction.

1. Ask a friend or neighbor to stop by from time to time to make sure that everything is in check.
2. Make sure that your mail and newspapers do not pile up. Either stop the service altogether, or have a neighbor pick it up for you.
3. Use timers on lights and other things such as radios. This will give the appearance that you are home, and will go a long way in scaring burglars away.
4. Keep the outside area of your home well lit. Burglars never hit a home with lights on because they do not want to be seen.
5. Ask a neighbor if they don't mind parking in your driveway from time to time. This will give the appearance that somebody is coming and going from the home.