4 Tips to Protect Your Home During Spring Break

No worries—relax and follow these four home tips to maximize your protection and keep your home safe.

• Is someone home? Sure looks like it.

Even though you are off enjoying a well-earned vacation, give the appearance that someone is home. Install electric timers on your lights, arrange to have the lawn mowed or driveway shoveled, and contact your mail carrier so they can hold your mail. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, enlist their help in keeping an eye on your home while you are away.

• Pull the plug.

Disconnect major electronics in your house to protect yourself from power surges that may occur. Think about things such as computers, televisions, and entertainment systems. Also, unplugging will save some electricity while you are gone, so that is another plus!

• Lock it up!

In addition to ensuring your doors and windows are locked, you may also want to invest in a safe to store some of your valuables. Even important personal documents should be kept under lock and key.

• Turn up the volume.

Investing in a burglar alarm for your home is not only good when you are on vacation, but also year round. An alarm that makes noise right away could cause the burglar to turn around and leave before stealing anything. Also, most of these alarms contact the local police or other emergency services. Not to mention, having an alarm installed could result in a discount to your home insurance.

Additionally, you may want to consider adjusting the temperature of your home by a few degrees to save some money. Just be sure to not reduce it too low to protect water pipes from freezing.

Now go have fun on your trip—you earned it!