It’s that time of year again – summer vacation! There is nothing better than trading in your responsibilities and worries for some fun, rest, and relaxation. However, you need to take care of a few important details before you head out of town. To help keep your home safe while you are on vacation, following are some tips to keep in mind.

1) Do not blast it out on social media that you will be out of town.
Chances are, you probably have a few friends or followers on your social media platforms that you do not know incredibly well. While we like to assume that everyone, we associate with is a good person, you cannot always be positive on this. As an extra precaution, don’t share it on your Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media account that you are going on vacation and how long you will be out of town. That information can be tempting for some people. If you want to share more about your vacation, wait until you have safely returned home to share all the pictures and details of your trip.

2) Invest in a home security system and use it.
If you have not installed some type of home security system, now is the time to seriously consider making this investment. There are so many options available these days, making it much easier to find a solution that best suits your budget and lifestyle. One option is to work with a professional home security company. This will allow you to set an alarm while you are away, and the appropriate authorities will be notified automatically if any issues arise. If you want to steer clear of any contracts, there are many home securities features you can purchase and install on your own. There are doorbell cameras that will notify you if it senses any movement, or you can even get outdoor cameras that you can easily check from your phone at any time. With a little research, you can find a home security system that will give you peace of mind while you are on vacation.

3) Ask someone to keep an eye on things.
Even if you have an alarm or cameras, it is still nice to ask a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on things while you are out of town. They can quickly give you a heads up if they see anything out of the ordinary. They can also let you know if anything suddenly happens. For example, what if a strong summer storm knocks down a tree in your backyard? Or what if there is an incident in the neighborhood that you should know about? It’s always nice to have an extra set of eyes on your property while you are gone.

4) Stop your mail.
It is easy for criminals to identify your home as a target when they see that the mailbox is full and there are packages stacked on the front porch. With just a little effort, they can quickly recognize that the homeowners must be out of town. Protect yourself by putting a stop on your mail. You can easily do this with a few clicks on the USPS website. If you have some larger packages coming that cannot be delayed, ask someone to move the boxes for you so they are not sitting out in plain sight the whole time you are on vacation.