Is your home or cabin an easy target for crooks or vandals while you are away?
Things to avoid in BLACK. Solutions in BLUE.
Avoid mail buildup in your mailbox. Have your mail forwarded or consider not having a mailbox on site if you don’t use the home much. You can get a post office box and receive your mail there. The U.S. Postal Service has a special mail forwarding program that is perfect for snowbirds, executives, or anyone else that travels away from their permanent address for extended periods of time. It is called the Premium Forwarding Service, which is available for a small fee. If you do not want to pay any fees, you can use the U.S. Post Office's regular forwarding service, which involves filling out a U.S. Postal Service Official Change of Address form.
Avoid free newspaper and flyer build up in your newspaper bin and on your front porch. Have someone you trust check for these things and remove them. Remove the newspaper bin from your box completely.
Avoid trash sitting at the end of the driveway for days or weeks on end. Ask your trash service if they would bring your trash up to the house for an additional fee. Most garbage companies will do this, and they refer to it as “valet service.”
Avoid outside lights on all the time, continuously day and night. Install solar lights or put your lights on timers.
Avoid snow buildup on walkways and driveways with no tracks. This is also dangerous in the event of an emergency. Always arrange for reliable snow removal before you leave for the season. Not only will it make your home look occupied, but it will also allow for emergency access.
Avoid leaving a key under a rock or anywhere on the property that is not secure. If you must leave a key on site, make sure it is in a lock box that is attached to the property in an inconspicuous spot.
Avoid a garage door that is open revealing an empty garage. If you have an electronic opener, unplug it or turn off the breaker. It’s not unusual for garage doors to mysteriously open, despite claims by companies who make these that say that doesn’t happen.
Avoid ignoring security on outbuildings and garages. This is especially important if you have vehicles, tools, or other valuable items in these structures. Make sure there are locks on doors and windows of your sheds and garages. In addition, make sure it's not possible to look inside the windows. Install curtains on them or cover them with thick opaque paper.
Locals in vacation home areas and tourist towns notice these things. Unfortunately some people come to tourist towns during the "off season" just to look for things like this. Take simple steps to protect your special vacation retreat.
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