by admin, admin
Stay Worry-free on Your Vacation with this Checklist
A recent survey from Ask Your Target Market indicated that July was the most popular month of the year for travel. In fact, this summer is set to be a record-breaking year with Americans already spending $101.1 billion on vacations. Lower gas prices and a generally positive public outlook on the economy, could be two principal factors in this recent spike in travel. So what are you waiting for? Take the kids for one last trip before school starts, and follow this checklist to keep your home safe while you’re gone!
Clean out the kitchen.
Start by ridding of all food that could expire while you’re gone, and don’t forget to take out the trash. You’ll be thankful you did when you return to a crisp, clean home.
Manage the lights and turn off the A/C.
There’s no need to cool an empty house or pay for lighting that isn’t being used! Do one final check before you leave. For even more peace of mind, you can control the lights and the A/C remotely using the ADT Pulse app. To keep the house looking occupied and away from thieves, it’s a great idea to turn on some lights at different times throughout the evening. With a touch of a button on the app, you can set lights to automatically turn on at different times.
Leave a car in the driveway.
If you have an extra car at home, park it in the driveway while you’re away. If not, ask a friend or neighbor if they can park theirs in your driveway. This will ward away burglars and make it seem as if someone is home.
Hold the mail.
Mail piling up on the front step is a good indication of a vacant house. You can have your mail held for free for 30 days, by signing up at usps.com. Alternatively, it may be a good idea to arrange for a friend or family member to collect your mail.
Unplug the electronics.
To save on electricity, unplug chargers, computers, lamps and coffee pots.
Lock all doors and windows.
Before you leave, make sure each door and window is locked and secured. Finally, arm your security system. With the ADT Pulse app, you can do this from your phone even if you forget in the chaos of travel.
If that’s not enough, the app includes even more protective features like notifying you when someone is on your property and allowing you to speak to anyone at your front door, all in an effort to help you and your family even safer. Have a fun and safe vacation and feel free to learn more at our Facebook page! If you’d like to set up a consultation for a home monitoring system, we encourage you to visit our website.