With summer fast approaching, it’s almost time for families to start migrating to their previously unoccupied vacation homes. Even though these houses may not have residents all year-round, they need just as much security as primary homes. If anything, they might require even more security because the absence of people makes it attractive to plotting burglars. If you’re planning on making a trip to your vacation home, then here are some steps you can take to secure the property before it’s left vacant once again.

Lock All Doors & Windows

This tip seems obvious, but you’d be surprised to find out how many people forget. In fact, about 1 in 3 burglars enter through doors that have been left unlocked. For vacant vacation homes, it’s much more important to double-check that all of the doors and windows are secured because once you leave, it’ll be awhile before you come back. The more time you spend away from your unlocked property, the more time burglars have to strike. For added security, you could deadbolt door locks and install secondary locking mechanisms onto windows. One thing to add: never, ever hide a spare key on your property. If you’re able to think of a hiding place, then chances are that the burglar can also think of it.

Befriend Your Neighbors

You might be familiar with the phrase “it takes a village” and even though the original phrase refers to child rearing, I would like to think that this sort of ideology can also be applied to securing vacant vacation homes. Getting to know your neighbors and establishing a mutual relationship is critical for securing vacation homes because they’ll be able to keep watch for any suspicious activity in your absence. If possible, join your neighborhood’s social media group to receive updates and be sure to reciprocate any kind deeds or favors. And if you really need to have a spare key nearby for emergency purposes, give it to a trusted neighbor instead.

Make the House Look Occupied

When it comes to securing vacant vacation homes, appearance is everything. If a house looks vacant or abandoned, it may attract vandals, thieves, or squatters. To give off the appearance that your vacation home is still being lived in, you could install timed interior lights that are set up to automatically turn on during certain hours or ask neighbors to park their cars in your driveway. You should also make sure that your property looks properly maintained by hiring someone to come out periodically to trim the grass and shrubs. In addition, you should pause or redirect any newspaper and mail deliveries so they don’t stack up in front of the house, which is a dead giveaway.

Invest in a Security System

The best way to secure vacant vacation homes would be to install a complete security system. The best security systems for vacation homes would be ones that are capable of remote access so that you’ll be able to monitor what is happening on your property at anytime and from anywhere. You could also opt to use security cameras that are equipped with motion detection to be notified whenever a potential intruder is detected. In addition to the exterior, installing cameras inside of the house is important so that you can check for any fires or water leaks without having to travel there and perform in-person inspections. If you’re needing a security system for your vacation home, then our sales consultants are available to help your needs.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any more questions.