More people travel during the end-of-year holidays than at any other time during the year. While tenants usually have nothing to worry about when they’re away, some simple steps can help keep their condos safer during the holidays.
- Put your mail on hold. If you’re going to be away for more than 3 days, it might be worthwhile to contact the post office and get them to hold your mail. This will prevent mail buildup in your box, which can also tip off others that your home is unattended.
- Don’t turn the heat off. If you live in a cold climate (aka Chicago), you should keep the heat on high enough to prevent pipes in your condo from freezing (usually around 65°F).
- Invest in light timers. To keep your condo safe, you should maintain the appearance of it being lived-in. The easiest way to do that is to put some lights on a timer to go on every evening.
- Get a neighbor to check up. Ultimately, nothing beats a human presence. So, it is ideal if you can get a neighbor to check up on your place while you’re away (bonus: they can water your plants while they’re looking the place over).
- Don’t advertise on social media. Finally, keep in mind that the world is now connected like never before. Telling the world (via social media) that you’re going away and leaving your house empty for a week is probably not the best idea when considering home security.
We hope these five steps will help you keep your home safer while you’re away this holiday season. Happy holidays and safe travels!
