| If you are planning on being away from your | | | | lookout for anything out of the ordinary. If your |
| home for an extended amount of time, it is | | | | neighborhood has a neighborhood watch program |
| important that you secure your home. You will | | | | have your home |
| not be able to enjoy your family vacation, | | | | listed as one of the homes that is in need of |
| concentrate on the business meeting, or feel | | | | being watched.It is a good idea to also make an |
| relaxed while visiting relatives, if the thought of | | | | inventory of your valuables, with serial numbers |
| your home being violated is always in the back of | | | | and model numbers where possible. This |
| your mind. There are many things that you can | | | | information comes in handy if you ever have to |
| do before you leave, as well as things you can | | | | file an nsurance |
| have arranged to be done by a third party, that | | | | claim due to theft.It is important that you make |
| will ensure that your home, property and pets are | | | | adequate arrangements in regards to any pets |
| safe.The most important aspect an owner needs | | | | that you may own. You can board them at a |
| to be concerned with is that their home does not | | | | shelter, if need be, though the comfort and care |
| look vacant while they are away. | | | | of your pet should always be kept in mind. It will |
| Statistics report that generally a home is | | | | be unsettling to your pet to be separated from |
| burglarized every 12 | | | | you, make sure that their temporary home is as |
| seconds. It is important that you leave your | | | | loving and comfortable as possible. No family pet |
| curtains open when | | | | should be kept in a cage for an extended amount |
| you leave. Closed curtains indicate a vacant | | | | of time. Make sure that you are leaving your pet |
| home. You can also purchase light timers. They will | | | | with someone who is an animal lover, and not in |
| turn on and off different lights in your home | | | | the business of kenneling for greed. You should |
| throughout the day until you return from your | | | | never forget the goldfish in the tank, or the plants |
| trip. It is also good to invest in motion sensor | | | | in your home. It would be sad to come home to |
| lights for the outside. As added protection, you | | | | a floating fish and dead house plants. You may |
| may want to keep a radio on somewhere in the | | | | want to make prior arrangements to have |
| main part of the house. The volume need not be | | | | someone come into your home to take care of |
| very loud, just loud enough to fool an intruder. It | | | | these other special family members.Prior to |
| is also good to have an alarm system. Make sure | | | | leaving it is important that you go through the |
| that it is turned on when you leave.Do not leave | | | | refrigerator and dispose of any products that will |
| house keys under rocks or flower boxes around | | | | have spoiled |
| your | | | | before you come home. You need to reduce the |
| home. Make sure they are all removed prior to | | | | temperature on the hot water heater to a lower |
| your departure. | | | | temperature, as well as the |
| Never leave a message on your phone that you | | | | thermostat on any central heat and air units that |
| are away. That is | | | | you may have. |
| just asking for an intruder.You need to also be | | | | Make sure that all outside water hoses are |
| aware that your lawn can also give signals | | | | disconnected if it is the winter season, it will help |
| that you are away and your home is vacant. If | | | | to keep your pipes from bursting in extreme cold |
| you are leaving | | | | weather. It is also important that you check all |
| during the warmer months, clip your lawn prior | | | | smoke detectors to verify that they are in |
| to your departure. Arrange in advance to have | | | | working order.An option that you may want to |
| someone come and cut your lawn while you are | | | | check into that will give you |
| away, as well. It is also good to cut back plants or | | | | peace of mind is a house sitter. This is a person |
| shrubs that would provide a good place for an | | | | that comes in and takes care of all the above |
| intruder to hide, or lurk behind. If you live in a cold | | | | listed things and stays at your home while you |
| climate and it is winter, be sure that you make | | | | are away. Your pets will be able to stay in their |
| arrangements to have someone you trust come | | | | own environment, the plants will be watered, the |
| and shovel the snow while you are away. Nothing | | | | pool cleaned, the mail checked, the lawn will be |
| gives a clue that no one is home more than a | | | | mowed, etc. The house sitter's voice will be heard |
| driveway and side walk that is piled under 6 feet | | | | on the end of the telephone line when a future |
| of snow. If it is pool season arrange for someone | | | | burglar calls to check to see if someone is home. |
| to clean your pool while you are away.Make sure | | | | It will be the house sitter that they see coming |
| that all outside work buildings or sheds are locked. | | | | and going from your home on a regular basis if |
| | | | your house is under surveillance by a future |
| Mowers, bicycles, and tools need to be secured | | | | burglar. The presence of the house sitter is the |
| inside. It is | | | | number one burglar deterrent.A house sitter can |
| important that you do not leave your garage | | | | also provide invaluable services like |
| door opener inside | | | | forwarding faxes to you if you run a home |
| any vehicles that will be left on the driveway. | | | | business and an urgent matter needs to be dealt |
| You can even | | | | with. They can also provide immediate attention |
| arrange to have someone move your vehicles | | | | to your home if there is ever an |
| around periodically in your driveway to give your | | | | emergency.House sitters are the best thing you |
| home the lived in look. Check all windows prior to | | | | can do in regards to your pets. They can take |
| leaving, as well as outside doors. Dead bolts on | | | | your furry friends for their scheduled checkups, |
| the doors, and key locks for the windows are the | | | | and tend to them if they get sick or hurt. They |
| safest. Just make sure that the keys are | | | | can also bathe them, feed them and love them |
| removed from the window locks before your trip. | | | | until you get home. You can also leave a grocery |
| Do not forget your skylight windows, or the small | | | | list with your house sitter. When you return |
| fanlights that may be in your bathroom. If an area | | | | home, you will have a pantry and refrigerator |
| is small enough for a head to fit through, it needs | | | | stocked full of food, and you will not have to |
| to have a lock on it.You need to contact your | | | | worry about that dreaded chore upon your |
| local post office and have all mail kept there until | | | | return. A house sitter can also be in charge of |
| your return. Cancel all newspaper subscriptions, as | | | | getting any needed prearranged servicing done on |
| well. This is not an uncommon practice, and it will | | | | your vehicles, or your home, while you are away. |
| ensure that you don't have papers piling up on | | | | Above all else, the main service that a house |
| your walk, or mail spilling out of your box. That is | | | | sitter provides is that you can call home and see |
| an open invitation to an intruder.It is also | | | | how your home is doing.There is no greater |
| important that you are careful during casual | | | | feeling than to have peace of mind and to be able |
| conversation with the clerk at the store, dry | | | | to enjoy your time away from home. The only |
| cleaners, clubs, | | | | feeling that can match that is coming home and |
| etc. Do not let anyone in the general public know | | | | finding that your home is still intact, your pets are |
| that you are | | | | well, and that your valuable are where you left |
| planning a trip. You never know who might be | | | | them. You cannot leave home without having |
| listening. It is | | | | someone watch over your home. The day of |
| also important that you do not list your address | | | | everyone leaving their front doors unlocked are |
| on your luggage. You would be surprised at how | | | | over. Make sure that you do everything you can |
| many homes are burglarized because a future | | | | to assure that your home, pets and possessions |
| burglar saw your address on your luggage at the | | | | are well-protected while you are away.Author Ian |
| airport. They simply follow you to the departure | | | | L. White specializes in helping people who are |
| gate and ransack your home that evening.You | | | | interested in finding a house sitter in their town, |
| can contact your local law enforcement office and | | | | or for more |
| let them | | | | information about the benefits of house sitting. |
| know that you are going to be away. Give them | | | | To find out |
| the dates of when you will be leaving and when | | | | about these services, visit today.Registration is |
| you will be returning. They will provide a patrol unit | | | | free for homeowners and a free trial is offered |
| to drive by your house every day to be on the | | | | to House sitters. |