The holiday season is here and you’re excited by the prospect of spending some quality time with family and friends away from home exploring the world. But one thing you can’t get out of your mind is whether your empty condo will be a target for robberies and break-ins. It’s quite a frightening prospect. However, the best way to keep would-be-burglars away from your home is to be well prepared. Below are some condo security tips to help you ward off potential burglars when you’re away having a good time.
1. Make It Seem Like You Never Left
Burglars are unlikely to break into a home that’s occupied. For this reason, turning your lights on and off while you’re away can work a treat. You don’t even have to do it yourself or get someone to do it for you. Use set timers to turn the lights on and off at given times. Make sure to leave the car parked in your driveway.
2. Hire a Pet-Sitter or a House-Sitter
You could also just leave someone at home. If you have a relative or friend who is willing to move in temporarily then you won’t have much to worry about. If you don’t, you might want to consider using pet-sitting or house-sitting service providers. The cost may be high but it may well be worth every penny.
3. Hold Your Mail
One giveaway sign of a vacant home is an overflowing mailbox. If you’ll be away for more than a couple of days, make sure to call your post office. Stop all mail deliveries to your home until you’re back. The USPS offers this service for free and you can stop the mail for up to 30 days. If you’ll be gone longer, you can ask a trusted neighbor to pick your mail for you.
4. Install Security Cameras
This is one of the best condo security tips to implement. Being able to see what’s happening in your condo at any time during your holiday exploits is priceless. Install security cameras with motion detection so you can be altered when there’s an intrusion in your home. Make sure you can view all areas of your home.
5. Don’t Broadcast Your Absence
It’s tempting to want to share your amazing holiday experience with your friends on social media. But you should be aware that you’re announcing to the world that you’re not home. You might want to temper the urge to share until you get back home.
6. Secure Your Condo
You should make it hard for burglars to access your condo. Check that all windows are properly locked before you leave. People often forget to close a window or the back door when leaving the house. If you have an alarm system, make sure it’s turned on.
7. Secure Your Valuables
You make not be able to make your condo 100% burglarproof. There’s always the chance of a successful break-in and you don’t want the burglars to make away with your valuables. Try not to leave your valuables in the house if you’ll be gone for a while. Don’t leave jewelry, money, or any other valuables lying around. You might want to use a hidden safe or store the stuff or deposit your valuables in a safety deposit box.
Another way to guarantee the safety of your condo every time you’re away is to move into a condo community with proper security protocols in place. Talk to the Toronto condo team about this.
