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