Your hotel is booked, bags are packed, car is gassed up, and you’re all set to hit the road for your annual vacation.

Not so fast!

There are still a few steps that need to be checked off your to-do list in order to keep your home safe and sound while you’re away.

Lock Up

Maybe this task seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to lock everything up. It’s always best to make a checklist of things you need to lock before you leave to help you remember. Give the locks in your house a second look just before you walk out. Make sure all doors, windows and fences are properly shut and securely locked.

Perhaps consider putting a deadbolt on your door while you are out of town to give you that extra peace of mind. This might seem like overkill but, unfortunately, summertime is a prime time for burglaries due to so many homes being vacant. It’s better to be safe and ensure you have an amazing vacation!

Lay Low 

Traveling is always a tempting time to overshare on social media. After all, you want your followers to see you basking in the Caribbean sun while they are stuck back home!

However, by posting everything on Facebook or Instagram (even if it’s just a picture of your dessert) can be dangerous. You never know who might be looking at your page and posting a photo of you out of town gives clarity that a stranger needs to break into your home.

Lay low and share all of your amazing photos when you get home from vacation!

Stay Lit 

A dark home screams, “I’m out of town! Come on in!”

There are ways to keep your house lit up without your electricity bill sky rocketing while you’re out of town. If you have exterior flood lights, set them on motion sensor so they come on with any exterior motion. Automatic timers that are scheduled to go on and off at specific times are very important for the lamps inside your home. When a stranger drives by and sees a house in which it seems like people are currently inside, then they will most likely continue to drive away.

Keep It Normal 

In order to further make it look like your home is currently being lived in, keep other aspects normal, as well. For instance, if you typically leave your curtains slightly open, then leave them that way. If you usually leave a car in your driveway, maybe lock it up and keep it in the driveway. Pull your trashcans inside, so it doesn’t look as if they have been abandoned.

Think about the normal routines of your everyday life and keep living them out, even when you’re not there!

Ask A Neighbor

Now is the time to ask that friendly neighbor of yours for a favor. Before heading out of town, leave a key with a trusted neighbor and instructions for things you’d like them to help you with while you’re gone.

Before your mailbox overflows, have them check your mail every day. Maybe ask them to take the extra step of bringing your mail (and newspapers) inside your house and ensuring that everything still looks normal.

Have them double check your light timers while they’re at it!
Vacations are supposed to be relaxing, and we don’t want you stressing about the safety of your house while you’re gone. Follow these tips and you will be all set to have the best vacation ever!  

For questions or help buying a new home or selling your current home, please feel free to contact one of the professional expert agents with Network Real Estate, (910) 395-4100.

Neal Johnson is a CMCA, CRB, CNE and GRI-certified, licensed real estate broker at Network Real Estate, which has exclusively served a high volume of property sales and purchases in the greater Wilmington area for more than 30 years. With three offices at College Road, historic downtown Wilmington and Pleasure Island, Network’s brokers are widespread and well-versed in this marketplace, making Network a preferred real estate company for first-time homebuyers and beyond.