Summer’s here and many of you will be going on vacation. Whether it’s for a weekend or months, you should be enjoying yourself and not worrying that you will need home renos because your house will be a pile of ash, filled with water or empty of all your possessions when you get back.

Luckily, there are a few easy things that you can do now to keep your home safe while you’re away–ultimately saving you from stressful home renos when you return:

1. Lock It Up And Turn It Off

Locking your doors and turning on your security system when you leave your home is obvious, but there are plenty of other ways to physically secure your home. Make sure that your windows are locked, that your garage door can’t be opened (turn the motor of your garage door opener off just in case.)

Some of you will have breaker boxes that allow you to turn off wall sockets but leave lights on (which we’ll cover in a minute). The more electronic items that you can turn off the safer your home will be from fires caused by short circuits. If your breaker box doesn’t allow you to selectively turn off areas then you’ll have to go around unplugging your electronics- turning them off may not be enough as some items have standby modes. Make sure that your security system is still on though!

2. Keeping The Lights On

There are inexpensive timers that turn your lights on and off at set times. Very few break-ins occur in occupied homes, so if your home looks occupied then potential thieves are likelier to pass it over. You can find these timers at most hardware stores for $10-15 and they can be installed very easily, without any wiring—some are as simple as plugging in!

3. Keep Your Yard Tidy

If you’re planning to leave for more than a few weeks then your yard is likely to become overgrown and this could tip thieves off that you aren’t home even if your lights are on. Whether it’s a professional groundskeeping company or a neighbourhood kid, think about getting somebody to maintain your lawn while you’re away.

4. Check Your Plumbing

If you have a fire in your house then (hopefully) your neighbours will notice and call the fire department before it can do too much damage, but a burst pipe could do significant damage and go completely undetected. If you can shut off your water then now’s the time to do it, but if you can’t then check for leaks as best you can and call a plumber if you’re unsure. This could be one of the best ways to avoid very costly home renos when you return from vacation

5. When All Else Fails, Try a Housesitter

Having a trustworthy person stay in your house while you’re away is the best way to keep your house safe when you’re gone. Friends and family are most people’s first choice, but if you plan ahead you might be able to find somebody willing to house sit for you- or even pay to stay in your home.

It only takes a little care to keep your home safe while you’re on vacation. A couple of small changes can make the difference between coming back home with memories or come back to your worst nightmare.  At HR2 Construction we’re always happy to provide helpful resources for homeowners, but if you ever have a question about your home renovation, feel free to contact us.