How To Protect Your Home While You Travel The World
It’s Almost Christmas Break Time; Will You Be Traveling?
Only a few more weeks and the Christmas holiday is here! Even though not everyone can take two full weeks off from work, many people get at least a few days or a week off to spend time with their families over Christmas break.
Whether you spend Christmas at home and travel later, go ‘on location’ to a warm climate, take the family on a ski trip or spend Christmas day at ‘the happiest place on earth’, reality is that when you aren’t home, someone is sure to be looking at your property!
Preparation Can Deter and Prevent Crime and Home Disasters, Too!
We’ve covered this subject before, several times, yet when we watch the news, we feel so bad for those affected by break-ins, fires and other home disasters.
What can you do?
You can take preventative measures to do everything in your power to prevent and deter criminals before they decide to enter your home and you can prep your home to prevent leaks, fire and other home disasters!
Here is a list to help you get started!
13 Things To Do To Prepare Your Home Before you Travel
- Install a security system with 24hour monitoring for crime and fire!
- Install security cameras wired into your security system to get a live feed of your home.
- Post a ‘protected by….’ security sign in a prominent place outside your home.
- Don’t announce your trip on social media.
- Hire a home sitter to take care of your home, or stop all your mail, newspaper delivery and package deliveries!
- Don’t leave your trashcan sitting at the curb.
- Put your lights on timers.
- Lock all doors and double check to make sure your windows are locked as well.
- Turn off your main water valve right before you leave on your trip.
- Check the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors if they aren’t hard-wired into your system.
- Tell your neighbors of your plans and how and where you can be reached.
- Leave a few kids toys or dog toys out on the lawn or in the backyard.
- If you have a dog, or even if you don’t, leave a dog bowl or leash by the back door.
Now doing all of these things on this list can not completely prevent crime or home disasters like fires, floods or wind damage, but the thing is, if you have a monitoring service and cameras, at least you’d be alerted the minute something were to be happening in your home.
For example, in one of our local Myrtle Beach neighborhoods there was an unattended home during the ice storms of 2015. After the ice melted, water was seen gushing out of the house from under the garage door. Clearly, a pipe or water heater had broken (most likely a pipe as the water kept running and running) and neighbors tried – in vain – to reach the home owners who, as it turns out, were out of the country. We can only imagine the damage that was done to that home with water gushing out for days!
A simple conversation with a friendly neighbor would not have prevented the disaster but would have notified the owner and stopped it much quicker.
If you travel often and need a security system, come talk with us!
We use the best materials, systems, cameras and the absolute best monitoring service we have found.
I Live in a Safe Neighborhood; Do I Still Need a Security System?
How Do You Protect Your Home?
No matter what town or city you live in, some neighborhoods just have a better reputation than others. If you happen to be one of the lucky people to reside in a known ‘safe’ neighborhood, do you still need a security system for your home? What about if your neighborhood has a neighborhood watch, or a security patrol? How about if your neighborhood has a safety patrol as well as fences and 24/7 security guards at the gates?
These are questions we get asked often and today we will answer them for you!
What Do You Should Know About Your Neighborhood Security
If your neighborhood has a neighborhood watch, a security patrol, or security guards, more often than not these are ‘governed’ (and paid) through your homeowners association. To find answers and details about your neighborhood’s security, contacting your HOA is the first step we recommend. If you do not have an HOA or neighborhood watch, information about crime rates in your area should be available through your local police department.
From your HOA, you should be able to get details on
- hours of patrol
- where (specific route/streets) the patrols take place
- manpower
- security cameras
- neighborhood/community access restrictions
and more.
Details and stats on previous break-ins (cars and homes), vandalism and other issues should be recorded somewhere in the HOA meeting minutes if they have been discussed. We certainly recommend that your community management company is upfront and forthcoming with details about these issues as information becomes available.
For example, if there was a rash of overnight car break-ins, you’d want to know so you can double check your own vehicles that following night, correct? Does your HOA send out an email blast when this occurs? There has to be a way your HOA communicates with you and your neighbors about safety issues.
So step one is to find out how easy it is to get access to your community and neighborhood and what the crime rate is in your neighborhood.
Your Neighbors’ Security Habits
Next up, ask your direct neighbors about past crimes on your street and in your neighborhood. Especially if you are new to the neighborhood, getting this information is vital to your own security planning. We also recommend you not only ask your neighbors, but also watch their behavior.
- Do garages stay open all day, or do people keep them closed?
- Do your neighbors have dogs?
- Do your neighbors bring their garbage cans back to their house?
- Do your neighbors pick up their mail and newspapers daily?
- Do your neighbors have security company signs in their yards?
- Are there any strangers walking and driving around on your street?
- How many work vans and unmarked vehicles do you see on any given day on your street?
If it sounds and feels like your neighbors feels secure, you need to figure out what makes your own home feel secure to you.
If it sounds and feels like your neighbors don’t feel secure in your neighborhood, you not only need to address your home security, but also your neighborhood security with your HOA or local police department. We encourage you te get involved and be an active participant in your overall security. Protect the ones you love!
A Home Security System Gives You Peace of Mind
Whether you live in a 24/7 guarded neighborhood, or in a high crime neighborhood, break-ins happen, everywhere. To keep you and your loved ones safe, invest in a home security system and you have the peace of mind to know that help is on the way immediately if something were to happen to your home!
Talk to us if you aren’t sure what system to get for your (new) home.
If you are a first time home buyer, check out this Ultimate First-Time Home Owner Security Check List.
Myrtle Beach Security and Alarm System Company Celebrates Five Years!
‘Celebrate Good Times, Come On…’ ♫♩
This past Thursday Strand Security of Murrells Inlet and Maryland celebrated its fifth anniversary by holding an Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at their new showroom.
Strand Security is Myrtle Beach’s Premier Security System and Alarm System Company.
Fully Licensed & Insured Strand Security believes in making our world safer and more secure one customer at a time. We have an unrelenting focus on providing excellent customer service, innovative products, competitive rates and a proficient service team. We know that in today’s market, it’s vital to know our customers personally and offer accessibility by making their security needs our first priority. We exceed expectations with a professional, productive team that is always ready to go above and beyond. Your Security, is Our Business when you choose Strand Security to protect your home or business.
Strand Security, Proudly Serving Maryland and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and the surrounding areas!
We are proud to show off some of the pictures of our Open House.
The balloon and flowers made it festive!
We had wonderful visitors to our Open House. There we many Chamber of Commerce members!
Corina, our sales representative helped us host this event!
The moment before the ribbon was cut!
And then there was cake, lots of cake!
Your hosts, Chuck and Heather Bryant!
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