Home Advice: Securing Your Home for Vacation

Summer home security tips

As summer begins and locals turn their attention to vacation destinations, prepping your home to be secure during your absence is a must. Realtor Eileen Boh with McEnery Residential provides the details.

Boh breaks the to-do list into safety, utilities and hurricane/miscellaneous. The goal for the first category, according to Boh, is to keep things as normal as possible and “to make it look like you’re not gone.”

Lighting is key. Boh recommends putting exterior and interior lights on a timer and using a flood light or motion activated flood light to illuminate outdoor areas, and entrances. She suggests keeping shades and blinds down while away and “involving your neighbors, family or friends” to keep a watchful eye.

A neighbor can collect mail every few days to keep it from piling up and attracting attention. And leaving a car in a garage, carport or driveway suggests a presence as does sticking to your regular lawn/landscaping and garbage/recycling schedules. The stress of preparing for a trip can cause an oversight, so make sure you lock up and use an alarm system. Finally, Boh advises against posting about your vacation until you return and recommends entrusting a neighbor with a key or alarm code in case they need to get in.

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Taking precautions with utilities can avert the need for repairs. Turning water off at the shut off will prevent damage in case of a leak. Those with electric water heaters may also want to turn off the water heater in case the tank leaks. Unplugging electronics (computers, TVs, etc.) and small appliances may protect devices in case of loss of power or power surges. And setting your HVAC system at around 77- or 78-degrees conserves energy – though Boh cautions that some homes need to stay cooler to prevent moisture and mildew. Opening closet doors and doors to rooms with no ventilation helps keep air flowing and can help mitigate moisture.

For the third category, Boh recommends following the advice given for hurricane preparedness and evacuation.

“We live in a hurricane-prone area, and you have to keep in mind all the things you need to do in case of hurricanes or thunderstorms,” she said.

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Keep important papers (insurance information, birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license info, passport etc.) or copies of those items together in a waterproof, fireproof container. And as suggested above, make the adjustments you would normally make to prepare for loss of power. Park your car in a place that doesn’t flood. Plan to use food in your fridge and freezer before you leave to minimize waste and mess. If water intrusion from driving rain occurs around doors and windowsills, line those areas with towels and move any valuable or electronic items that can be damaged. Lastly, Boh advises leaving a clean house when you head off to a vacation to deter bugs and pests and eliminate odors. Plus she adds, “coming home to a clean house is a bonus.”


About the Expert
Eileen Boh brings an MBA, several decades of marketing experience, a love of architecture and a passion for New Orleans to her career as a realtor with McEnery Residential. “I love working with people and helping them realize their dreams,” said Boh.

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