If you are fortunate enough to have a vacation home where you can escape all of the commotion and stress of everyday life, you are surely concerned with home security- you want to make sure you can protect your property and all of the items that may be found inside. Since the house probably remains unoccupied for a significant amount of time each week, month, or year, depending on how far away it is, it is a more likely target for theft than a permanent home. Luckily, there are many simple precautions you can take in order to ensure that your valuables stay safe, even when you are hours or days away.
Of course, one of the most obvious keys to preventing burglary in your vacation or weekend home is the installation of a reliable home alarm system. An effective system should comprise a number of standard features. These include motion sensors, alarm sirens, smoke detectors, a keypad for activation and deactivation of the alarm, and 24-hour monitoring by security professionals in control centers. This type of system will ensure that your home is protected in the event of a break-in-unusual activity will be detected immediately and reported to local authorities by your security company’s control center. You may be across the country, but you can rest assured that local police will arrive at the scene of the break-in as quickly as possible.
There are also many steps you can take to deter thieves from targeting your home in the first place. Placing signs and decals bearing the logo of your home security system in your windows and front yard is one of the simplest measures you can take to discourage potential burglars. Most security companies will provide these to you when your system is installed. Your vacation home should also appear occupied at all times. Even if a thief knows the house is unlikely to be your permanent residence, they do not know how often you use the house or rent it out to others. There are several ways to create the illusion that your home is occupied, the most obvious of which is to leave a light or radio on in a front room of the house. Most home alarm systems will include motion-sensitive lights, but you may want to supplement these with timer-operated lights to further the impression that someone is in your home at all times.
It is always a good idea to avoid placing valuable items where potential intruders can easily see them. A thief who spots expensive computer, television, or stereo equipment from the outside has even greater motivation to break in to your home. While you are away, try to keep curtains and blinds closed in rooms where these items are located so as to avoid unnecessary displays of valuables for burglars.
Installing a dependable home security system and taking a few basic preventative steps will significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to theft. Your vacation time is extremely valuable, and so is your vacation home! Make sure you have done all that you can to protect it!
