Essential Home Safety for Summer Travel Season: 6 Tips To Protect Your Property While You’re on Vacation

“For individuals heading on summer vacation, there are several key things to keep in mind to ensure you’re protecting your vacant home and property while you are away, whether it’s for a weekend trip or a monthlong getaway,” says Jen Wilbert, assistant vice president, property portfolio at Travelers Insurance. “It’s important to have a solid plan in place before leaving town.”

But what exactly does “I’m going on vacation” home safety prep entail? Well, it’s definitely more than just locking the door on your way to the airport.

1. Create a plan to maintain everyday appearances

Robbers will case out homes that look empty. So if you’re en route to vacation, you want to create the illusion you never left.

“It’s important to make it look like someone is home even if you are not,” says Wilbert, who suggests using automatic timers or smart lightbulbs that can be controlled remotely to turn lights on and off in various parts of the house and installing motion-sensitive lights outside to add security. “Outdoor lighting can be the difference between your home being targeted, or not, by thieves.”

Creating the appearance that you’re still present also means making a plan to keep up with everyday home-maintenance activities. Yes, you should have someone collect your mail, stop your newspapers, and ask a friend or neighbor to grab any packages that may be delivered while you are away. But don’t forget about typical “weekly” tasks as well.

For example, an unkempt lawn can signal that your home is vacant, which could attract burglars.

“Arrange for lawn mowing so you do not advertise when you are away from home,” suggests Wilbert. “Also, ask a neighbor to set out your trash on collection day and then retrieve empty cans and recycling bins the same day.”

2. Secure your home from the inside out and outside in

Obviously you’re going to lock your doors when you leave, but have you thought about all the other ways someone could get into your house?

“Reinforce external access points, which are any entryways or openings to your home that can be accessed from the outside,” says Wilbert.

This can be done with deadbolt locks and security hinges which make it more difficult to remove the door or tamper with the hinge pins. Also refrain from leaving your house key hidden somewhere outside your home and make sure all gates, fences, and garage doors are locked and secured.

And don’t forget about the windows!

“Before you leave on vacation, you’ll want to ensure all of the windows on your home are locked and cannot be opened from the outside,” says Wilbert.

If your window does not have a lock and you are unable to have them installed before you leave for vacation, Wilbert suggests that homeowners consider inserting a restrictor, using a piece of a wood as a wedge to block the track (if it’s a sliding window), or applying a security film to make it harder for intruders to break the glass.

Finally, if you have a security system, safeguard your home against theft by ensuring alarm systems are functional prior to your departure.

“If you have an alarm monitoring device, you can run the system in ‘test mode’ triggering doors and sensors to see if the system is working properly,” suggests Wilbert. “If you have a self-monitored system, ensure you are receiving notifications through app, text or email.”

3. Prevent pests from moving in while you’re out

Thieves aren’t the only kind of intruders you need to be aware of when heading out of town. Without you there to stop them, the ants (or something bigger!) could go marching one by one right into your home.

“It’s important to note, that most homeowners insurance policies do not cover pest infestations,” warns Wilbert.

As such, she suggests you should clean your home thoroughly and take out any trash before leaving to discourage pests from settling in while you are away.

It might also be a good move to arrange for a pest control company to conduct routine or preventive maintenance before you go. And don’t forget to inspect the premises for potential animal entry points, such as ensuring the fireplace flue is closed.

Finally, check weather stripping, insulation, and doors and windows for any significant deficiencies that could allow water or insects to enter.

4. Handle emergencies from anywhere

The best approach is to prevent emergencies before they happen.

Start with unplugging televisions, computers, and appliances that could be susceptible to lightning and power surges. In case of fire, you’ll want to make sure you have installed and tested smoke detectors on every floor—preferably linked to a monitored fire alarm system that will alert authorities in your absence.

If you are going to be away for a week or longer, Wilbert also suggests you can call your local police department’s non-emergency number to inform them of the vacancy and provide emergency contact numbers in case something happens while you are away.

“Some police departments will even do a vacation patrol to make sure there are no signs of trouble, and your home is secure,” says Wilbert.

5. Compile a comprehensive inventory list

This is a step many travelers don’t think about ahead of time, but in the off chance that something does happen to your property while you’re gone, would you be able to accurately recall everything you own in detail?

“Document possessions inside your home and on your property that may be of value, before you leave on vacation,” advises Wilbert. “Create a photo or video inventory and store it in a cloud-based service to ensure it won’t be lost, stolen, or damaged during any disaster at your home.”

Take pictures of relevant rooms or items—including serial numbers, purchase dates, receipts, and other details. If you choose to create a paper version, consider storing it off-site in a safe deposit box (which is also a good place to store any expensive jewelry or heirlooms). Wilbert says you may have possessions that are worth more than you think and your homeowners insurance policy may not cover those high-value items—unless accounted for and appraised.

“Having a detailed and up-to-date inventory list can help to expedite the claims process allowing you and the insurance adjuster to accurately assess the value of your lost or damaged possessions if something were to happen,” says Wilbert.

6. Remember not to advertise your absence

Finally, as tempting as it may be, keep your vacation plans private.

“Refrain from sharing travel plans on social media to prevent potential burglars from exploiting information about when your house will be vacant,” says Wilbert.

Even though you’re away on vacation, for safety’s sake, you want your house to look like you opted for a staycation this summer instead.