(Photo by Nicole De Khors from Burst)

We’ve all been home watching over our domains for the past year, but now that the world is opening back up, travel is beckoning! Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway just to dip your toes back into travel or a longer jetset, don’t forget to keep your home safe while you are away. Some simple, sensible, and affordable steps can deter burglars and other ill-intentioned parties from destroying your vacation bliss with a break-in.

These basic steps—from being careful with what you recycle to removing geotags from photos you post online—can go a long way when you need to keep your home safe and sound.

Top Ways to Keep Your Home Safe During Travel Season

Don’t Tempt

If valuables remain out of plain sight, thieves will be less tempted to steal them, which can keep your home safe. Design your home so that high-end electronics or art aren’t visible from the street. Enhance your curb appeal while discouraging prying eyes — plant beautiful but thorny shrubbery under windows. Keep your garage door closed so everyone doesn’t see all of the toys and tools you may have inside. Also, use your blinds, window films, and other window coverings strategically. For example, make sure that no one who might be casing your home can see in through a window to determine if your alarm system is armed.

Also, be mindful of what you are throwing out or recycling to help keep your home safe. If you’ve just bought a high-end item, like a flat-screen TV, break down the box and hide any identifying brands or descriptions. If you or someone in your family uses prescription drugs, take the empty bottles back to a pharmacy that will recycle them for you. Empty boxes and bottles tell a story about products and medications that may still be in the house, so don’t tempt anyone to enter and find out! 

Don’t Share

Be especially careful on social media when you want to keep your home safe. We love to post pictures of our exotic escapades on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, but it’s actually best not to do so while we’re still on the trip. Wait until you’ve made it back home so that it’s not so obvious your house is left unattended. If you just can’t keep from posting, make sure to comment thanking your house-sitters; at least this clues readers into the fact that someone may be watching over or occupying your home!

You should also consider dialing geotags on your camera to keep your home safe. Many cellphone cameras automatically add location tags to photographs, and even though you can’t see the information on the photo, it is likely hidden in the metadata, so you could be inadvertently advertising your address when posting items to online marketplaces like Craigslist or eBay. Best to change your phone settings to disable geotags as this could lead someone right to your location! 

Secure Your Stuff

Most burglaries happen during the day when people aren’t home, so double-check that doors and windows are locked and your security system is armed before leaving—even if you only plan to be out for a few minutes. This can help keep your home safe, whenever you leave.

It’s great to get into the habit of keeping everything locked, even while you’re at home, and make a regular routine of locking things after using them, especially windows. Double-check that locks are secure after someone works in your home, too, because it can be easy to forget little details when wrapping up with a contractor.

But basic locking is just the first step. Especially if you are planning to be away for a few days or more at a time, consider investing in a security system. There are a variety of system options at very affordable prices to choose from, many with the ability to view your home or yard from your smartphone while you are away. This gives extra peace of mind, and depending on the system you choose, could provide photo or video proof of lurkers, stolen packages, or break-ins.

Get Smart

The same smart technology and home automation that allows you to view surveillance video of your home on your smartphone can give you control of lights, music, and other activities that indicate that someone may be home… even when you’re not.

Motion sensor lights may be the easiest and most affordable of the smart products to add to your home. Simple to install, these lights are helpful for the homeowner as well, adding light to illuminate walkways and doorways upon approach. But they also work to surprise would-be burglars, so they are a great home protector.

It’s also extra smart just to get to know your neighbors. Taking the time to introduce yourself and establish a friendly rapport provides you with a network of neighbors close by that can all look after each other, and keep your home safe, and create the type of community environment that deters potential burglars.