Protect your home while on vacation

Spring break is coming up fast and summer is just around the corner. Most of us take time off from work and go on vacation far away from home to relax and enjoy time with our family. While you're gone, here are some things to consider to protect your home from break-ins:

1. Install timers to your interior lights so they turn on and off periodically. Timers in at least 3 different rooms will make it look like someone is home. You might also want to leave a radio on. Disconnect all unnecessary appliances from wall sockets (eg. microwave, toaster, coffee makers, etc)

2. Install motion sensor lights outside. Also, disconnect all exterior decorative lights to avoid fire.

3. Junk mail or free mail left on your driveway and front door. Have someone collect these every day. These are usually fliers, paper ads, free paper, etc. I usually pay my next door neighbor's son to pick up all this stuff off my front door and yard and put it in a plastic bag for me to collect upon my return. A dollar for every day I'm gone usually is a good deal.

4. Mail. You can request the post office to hold your mail until your return. This can be done online also. Go to their website and fill out the form. Make sure you do this at least a week before you leave.

5. Newspaper. Call your newspaper the week before you leave to let them know you don't want the paper delivered while you are gone. Request that they donate the newspapers to a school.

6. Ask your trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your home. If you will be away for two weeks or more, ask a family member who lives nearby to visit your home once or twice a week. Better yet, ask different family members to house sit for at least a week each.

7. If you don't have monthly lawn service, hire a gardener or your neighbor's kid to mow your lawn if you will be gone for two weeks or more.

8. Notify your alarm company you will be gone. Leave them your contact info or a trusted friend's info in case of emergencies.

Hopefully these tips will help in protecting your home while you are enjoying that tropical sun somewhere.