Tips for keeping your home safe when you travel

As we move a year into the Covid-19 pandemic, many people may be thinking about relocating to a vacation home for an extended period of time. How can you be sure that your primary home is safe while you are away, as we wait out the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines and a return to normalcy? There are some insights from top agents to keep in mind as you are preparing to leave your home empty, and we have outlined some of them here to help eliminate some of your fears and worries.

Check your electricity and power usage

Electronics are a necessary part of our lives and maybe you are planning to take the majority of your electronics with you, but what about the ones that you are leaving behind? There are several reasons to unplug, and if possible, store electronics and appliances if applicable while you will be away. Devices that are plugged in are still drawing power and that means you are paying for it. If there is a power surge this can also lead to problems like fried devices, which is why you should take the time to get in touch with electricians from somewhere like Aardvark Electric (https://aardvark-electric.com/electrical-services/surge-protection/) before you leave so you can protect your electrics in the event of a power surge. Also, if you have expensive stereo equipment or other big-ticket items, you might want to consider moving them to a secure part of your home. Before you leave, it would be wise to check and see if your home warranty covers any damage that may occur with your appliances, so you can be secure. If you do not have a home warranty or your current one is not great, you can go online to companies such as First American Home Warranty and see how they can be of assistance.

Keep your landscaping in check

Nothing says we aren’t home like a lawn that hasn’t been mowed or weeds that are gathering in your front yard. Why not get in touch with Trugreen NC or a similarly prestigious, professional lawn care service in your area to get them to give your lawn some TLC so that it may look its best once more. Even though you won’t be home to enjoy it, if you will be away from home for an extended period of time, you’ll want to be sure that you hire someone to keep your yard in top shape. Another plus of this is that agents are seeing – as a recent poll from HomeLight revealed about Covid-19 and real estate – more and more buyers that want updated outdoor spaces. So it’s in your best interest to keep this part of your home looking its best.

Secure valuables

No matter what a home value estimator tells you, what’s inside your home can make it desirable to thieves. If you won’t be taking valuables like jewelry with you, then you might want to invest in a safe inside your home where you can store these items while you are away. While you are at it, you can opt for a fire proof option that can also protect your valuables from a fire disaster. The size and quality that you go with will depend on how many items you need to store, but consider a size that can accommodate more as you never know when you might need to add to it, especially if you plan on being away for a long time, or are considering renting out your home during an extended time away.

Orchestrate your lighting

All households have a rhythm – that is having lights on at night, opening curtains and generally having a flow of being awake and asleep. While it isn’t possible to fully replicate your routine while you are away, you can consider putting lights on a timer to give a sense that you are at home. This goes not only for indoor lights, but also the lights on the exterior of your home, especially at night.

If you need to leave your home vacant for an extended period of time, taking some steps to keep it safe in advance can give you peace of mind. Aside from these tips, asking a friend to watch your home periodically can put you even more at ease.

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