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How To Protect Your Home While on Vacation
by COUNTRY Financial
You have enough to worry about before traveling. You’re busy wrapping up things at work, washing oodles of laundry and packing suitcases.
But what about ways to protect your home while you're gone?
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To help you get started, we've outlined some simple tips for how to secure your home while you're away. Check them out:
1. Stash your stuff in a safe
Before you leave, place your valuables in a locked safe or safe deposit box. If those aren’t options for you, make sure valuables aren’t in plain sight or in an obvious place.
2. Hire a sitter
If you have a pet, you can either hire a pet-sitter or drop them off at the local doggie daycare.
For pet-free homes, consider hiring a house sitter to help water plants and check in on your home every couple of days. There are dozens of websites and apps to help find people for both pet- and house-sitting!
3. Stop your mail
A tell-tale sign no one’s home is when a mailbox is overflowing and packages are stacked on the porch. Before you leave town, swing by your local post office or fill out their online form to put a hold on your mail.
Additionally, be prepared for packages. Ask a family member or trusted neighbor to grab them for you or set their delivery for after you return home.
4. Smart home technology
Burglars aren’t the only thing to worry about while you’re away. Installing safe home technology can help you keep an eye on your home from afar. Many companies offer a variety of smart home technology like smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, garage sensors, and water detection – so if water is detected in your basement or a smoke alarm is going off, your smart phone is alerted immediately. Simply search online for “smart home technology” for some options.
5. Keep your landscaping tidy
If you’re going on an extended trip, hire a landscaping company to cut your grass or shovel your driveway.
6. Be careful on social media
This is nothing new. If you post you’re on vacation, online predators know your house is empty and waiting for them. Try not to post your vacay pics until you’re back.
7. Secure outside doors, garages and windows
On the day of your trip, just before you leave for the airport or hit the road, walk around your house and secure openings. Make sure all exterior doors and windows are closed and locked, and of course, make sure to close the garage door.
Speaking of the garage door; if you're taking an extended trip, you can lock your garage door from within by installing a garage door side lock or manual deadbolt on the interior tracks. If your home isn't already equipped with these systems, you can buy them from most home improvement stores and install them easily.
Final thoughts
Whether you're traveling for business or vacation, there's likely a lot on your mind. Following these steps to keep your home safe while you're away can help take a serious load off.
Updated 1-13-26
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Start a quote or call us at 866-COUNTRY (866-268-6879). Find out more about home insurance.
Your insurance agent is there to help
Contact your rep or call us at 866-COUNTRY (866-268-6879). Find out more about home insurance.
COUNTRY Financial® is a family of affiliated companies (collectively, COUNTRY) located in Bloomington, IL. Learn more about who we are.
Home insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company® or COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.
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