Leaving your home unattended - 10 tips

Thinking of going on holiday but have no one to look after your home? Here are 10 tips to help protect your home while you’re away.

1. Make your home look occupied

Adding timer switches to some of your inside lights so they turn on for a period of time each night is a great way to make it look like someone is home. Thieves are less likely to check out the place if it looks occupied. You can also add timer switches to your TV; if you see a TV on through the window, you always assume someone is home.

2. Cancel post and deliveries

If you are ordering anything to be delivered, try and have it delivered elsewhere, or ask them to save it for you at the post office. A mailbox overflowing with mail is a sure sign that the home is unoccupied, and you don’t want to make this obvious.

3. Bring all spare keys inside

Having a hidden key just in case you forget yours might have proven to be helpful at times, but now is not one of them. Bring all hidden or spare keys inside, as you might think you have hidden it well, but thieves often know the ‘best’ spots to hide them.

4. Lock everything!

This may seem obvious, but there are locks we often forget about. Lock all your windows, gates, and doors. Remove any ladders, gardening tools, or heavy objects like garden gnomes that thieves could use to their advantage when trying to break into your home.

5. Stop any work on the property

If you are renovating or building while you are away, let the workers know that the work must stop for a period of time, but don’t tell them why. You wouldn’t think your own tradie would steal from you, but it happens, and it could happen to you!

6. Be careful with social media

By all means, tell your friends you are going on holiday, but don’t tell the whole world. Even the people who live on your street could be untrustworthy. Keep the news to a small circle of your friends and family, and get to those holiday posts once you return.

7. Activate your answering machine

A constantly ringing but unanswered phone is an obvious sign that you aren’t home. Make sure your answering machine is set, or alternatively, redirect calls to another phone number while you are away.

8. Speak with your neighbours

If you trust your neighbours, speak with them about your plans, and have them keep an eye on the house. If the junk mail starts to pile up, you can have them hold onto it until you return, to avoid making your absence more obvious.

9. Conceal all valuables

Don’t allow valuable items to be seen from the windows, ensure they are hidden for the duration of your holiday. If you have money, you don’t want it to be obvious. If you just bought a new TV, don’t leave the box in the bin out in the open. Instead, cut the box up and place it in a black bin bag, so it cannot be seen.

10. Check your insurance

Before you go, ensure your insurance is up to date and all your valuables are covered, just in case something does happen!

This blog post is the intellectual property of Peter Taliangis of Professionals Fremantle and is being used on this site solely as a representation of my work.