Protecting Your House

Protecting your house:

If you are worried about your house not looking lived in while you go, it is very simple and inexpensive to change that.

It's always a good idea to get a house sitter when you're on a trip. But if that's not possible, following steps may help to protect your home while you're away.

» Have a friend or neighbor collect your mail or redirect your mail to a friend or family member's home (make sure you check with them first!). But post office won't always get the dates exactly right, especially if you call at short notice.

» You can purchase - quite cheaply from any major department store - lamps and radios that have timers on them. You can set them to turn on at times in the evening so from the outside it looks like there is someone home. (Don't forget to set the radio to a talk back show so it's more talk than music - makes it more real).

» Turn off appliances that are often left on, such as computers, VCRs, and microwave ovens.

» Never leave an outgoing answering machine message saying you're away--it's dangerous to make that information public knowledge.

» Make sure your smoke detector is functioning.

» Remember that water expands when frozen. If you live in a place where the temperature may dip into the thirties, keep the heat on just enough to ensure that pipes won't freeze and burst.

» Tell someone where you've gone. Make sure at least one person knows where you are so you can be reached in an emergency.

*Subject to change

Copyright @2005