The National Realtors Association reports that there are more than six
million second or vacation homes in the United States. Many people who seek
escape from the cold, dark, icy days of winter head to second homes in warmer
climates during the winter months.
Others leave their homes to enjoy summer
vacations at the beach, or winter ski and snowboarding adventures in the
mountains. No matter what your destination, here are a few things you should do
to protect your primary residence while you're away.
Give It That Lived-in Look
When you're going away for an extended period of time, you should try to make
your home look like it is still occupied. If there is the appearance of activity
at your home, there is less chance that the house will be burglarized. Here are
a few ways to make it seem like you're home:
Set lights and a radio or television on timers so they'll go on
and off at different times of the day.
Use call forwarding to have your calls sent to your vacation
home's phone line or cell phone. You can also turn off or lower the ringer
volume on your phone so that it can't be heard from outside. If you are going to
leave a greeting on your answering machine, be sure you don't leave any
information about being away from home. Rather, leave a generic message like "we
can't come to the phone right now, please leave a message."
Arrange for landscaping services while you're away. Have
someone mow the lawn, rake the leaves and shovel the snow.
If you're leaving a car at your house and you don't have a
garage, have someone move your car periodically or ask a neighbor to park their
car in your driveway or in front of your house every so often.
Have your mail held at the post office and suspend delivery of
your newspaper. Or ask a neighbor to pick up your mail and newspaper daily.
Have an Expected Visitor
When you're going to be away, it's a good idea to ask someone to check on
your home on a regular basis. Ask a friend or family member to stop by about
once a week so that if there is a problem it can be taken care of quickly. They
should check that doors and windows are secure and open and close curtains and
shades every now and then to help make your house looked occupied. Be sure to
give your "home checker" a spare key-don't hide a key anywhere near or around
your house because thieves know where to look. Also, if you have a home security
system, be sure that your expected visitor knows how to set and disarm the
alarm.
Avoid Frozen Pipes in Winter
Frozen pipes are not only frustrating to deal with but they can also cause a
great deal of damage to your home. So, before you leave this winter, be sure
that your heating system is checked for proper operation and make any necessary
arrangements for continued fuel delivery. Also make sure that any pipes in crawl
spaces and attic spaces are well insulated and set your thermostats to at least
55 degrees so that your home is kept warm enough to prevent pipes from freezing.
Finally, leave kitchen cabinet doors and bathroom vanity doors open so that heat
can circulate to pipes under the sinks.
