You’ve started making all your lists, like what to pack for your cruise, what exciting new restaurants you want to try, or what in-flight entertainment you want to bring for the kids. Here’s one more: How will you keep your family, pets, and home safe when you’re on vacation? It’s hard to relax if you’re worried about your home’s security. A few simple extra steps can go a long way toward making sure your travels are stress-free.
How to protect your home when you’re on vacation
When you’re gone, your house is often left empty. And a home that’s obviously empty can be tempting to burglars. Thankfully, reducing the risk of a break-in while you’re on vacation doesn’t have to be complicated.
First, let someone you trust know that you’ll be out of town. It could be an official neighborhood watch group or simply the friend next door. They’ll be able to keep an eye on things and notify authorities of anything suspicious. Have them put some of their trash on the curb in front of your house on garbage night to make it look like you’ve been home. If snow is expected when you’re traveling during the winter, you might even ask your friend to shovel your driveway. (Be sure to bring them back a nice souvenir.) Again, it’s about making the house look lived in.
Second, take advantage of technology. Smart lighting, especially if you can program it to turn on and off at random intervals, can deter would-be burglars. This includes indoor as well as outdoor lighting like on your porch or over your garage door.
Security systems, video doorbells, and smart locks can also help you keep an eye on your house, no matter where you are. When the device pairs with an app on your phone, you might be able to see who’s at your door and even talk to them in real time. Having recorded video of your front porch can also help you identify unusual activity.
If you have a smart lock, you can provide an access code to trusted friends and family, like the neighbor who’s watching your house. This offers a secure way for them to drop off your mail, water your plants, and check on pets.
How to protect your pets while on vacation
Speaking of pets, we unfortunately can’t always take our furry friends with us when we travel. If you aren’t comfortable leaving them in a kennel or burdening friends and family by asking them for a favor, consider a dedicated pet sitter.
TrustedHousesitters is an online community that connects pet owners with verified and reviewed pet sitters worldwide. As a pet owner, you purchase a plan and create a listing with the dates you’ll be away. Then choose a verified and reviewed sitter from a list of applicants and travel with confidence knowing your pet is safe and cared for while you’re away.
As well as providing your pet with lots of time, care, and company while you’re away, an in-home pet sitter also means your home will be fully occupied while you’re away — without the need to enlist the help of a neighbor. From taking in the mail to taking out the trash, it’ll be like you never left.
Whether you decide to use one of TrustedHousesitters’ verified sitters or hire your own, you might want to go the extra mile to make sure everyone is comfortable and your home is safe. Some smart tips for trusting your home to pet sitters include creating a guest Wi-Fi network, sharing passwords with QR codes, and leaving a cheat sheet of smart home commands or how-to instructions for appliances like the washer. Providing a thorough overview of your pet’s routine (such as when they go for a walk, when they have dinner, and if they take any medication) is also a great step to take.
How to choose the best insurance for travel
It’s not fun to think about, but accidents do happen. And when they do, you want to be prepared. Ladder, can help. When you’re going on a trip and want to help protect your family, Ladder offers $100,000 to $8 million in term life insurance coverage for people ages 20 to 60. Their fully underwritten, online application takes just five minutes to complete.
Ladder Insurance Services, LLC (CA license # OK22568; AR license # 3000140372) distributes term life insurance products issued by multiple insurers – for further details see ladderlife.com. All insurance products are governed by the terms set forth in the applicable insurance policy. Each insurer has financial responsibility for its own products.
