Protect Your Home While You Travel

Tips from the Florida Association of Realtors

Is spring fever prompting you to head for the beaches or some other vacation getaway? If you're planning to travel in the near future, you can help protect your home while you're away by following these tips from the Florida Association of Realtors (FAR).

• Make it look like you are at home. Install timers on interior lights so they will turn on and off periodically. Many timers cost less than $25. Some more costly products are capable of varying the time that your lights turn on. Also consider leaving your radio on and tuned in to an all-news or talk show station.
• Take care of outside electrical components. Disconnect and remove all exterior electrical decorations before you leave to reduce the chance of fire and theft. Install exterior lights that are controlled by motion sensors to make your home a more difficult target for prowlers.
• Discontinue your newspaper delivery temporarily. Be sure to give several days' notice so your order can be processed in time.
• Ask someone to collect any free papers or sales materials left near your house. When fliers and papers are left on a driveway day after day, it's a sure sign that no one is home.


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