WV Farm Bureau Magazine August 2016 | Page 6

7 Ways to Protect Your Home While on Vacation

Burglaries increase by 10.5 percent in the summer months, according to a Department of Justice report. July and August are the most frequent months for break-ins, perhaps because so many people leave their homes unattended while they’ re on vacation. improvement radio show. If you have a neighbor or friend who can help, he says, ask them to drive your car around the block each day and park it in a different spot. If you have a porch or deck, ask your neighbor to move the furniture around a bit to make it look as if you’ ve been out there
Here are ways to prep your house before you hit the road for vacation so it doesn’ t look empty and attract the attention of robbers.
1. Make your house looked lived in
Controlling your lights with timers only goes so far in faking activity at your house while you’ re on vacation, says Mark Clement, home improvement, landscape and property management expert, and co-host of a home drinking your morning coffee.
2. Don’ t leave clues
If you are out of town on trash day, ask your neighbor to put out and bring in your trash cans.“ Not putting out your trash is a sign that you’ re not there,” Clement warns. If you normally keep your blinds open, keep them open while you’ re gone, otherwise you are signaling that no one is home.
6 West Virginia Farm Bureau News