subject: Housesitters and Home Security: A Few Simple Tips [print this page] Housesitters and Home Security: A Few Simple Tips
It's unavoidable that at some point, people are going to have to head out of the house for extended periods of time. Whether the occasion happens to be business travel, a close friend's wedding, or some simple and long-deserved vacation time, being able to hit the road and know that your home or apartment is in good hands is a serious relief. And because most robbers prefer to break into houses when they know they are unoccupied, a time of travel can be particularly vulnerable for your residence and your overall home security. That's why so many people are opting, rather than leaving an apartment or home empty, to go with a housesitter.
But what does that mean, exactly? Is it when you ask someone who is a good friend to stay at your place, or is it the sort of duty only reserved for relatives? While people's opinions differ on housesitters, one thing is definitely certain: clear communication is the best way to avoid any problems with someone who might be taking care of your house while you are on the road. And because it only takes one little accident to have a serious breach of friendship, not to mention a whole lot of stress, it is best to talk about the various rules and regulations beforehand, so that both your home security and your friendship can be preserved.
The first rule of choosing a housesitter is acknowledging what it is that you want and hold dear when it comes to your apartment or home. If you are a neat freak and know your trusted friend is going to throw a party or get a little messy, then avoid any drama whatsoever by not even asking in the first place. Likewise, if you have a lot of different things that need taking care of, and don't even bother to board your animals but expect everything to run smoothly, you are putting a lot of pressure on a friend or a relative. Be reasonable, and only leave a house to take care of that requires simple steps.
The second rule of organizing and arranging for a housesitter to take care of your place is going over all of the rules of the house. If there is a home alarm system, the first step will be changing your code to something new, if you are worried about it, and teaching your housesitter how to work the alarm. Make it very clear that the code is not under any circumstances to be shared. It is also important to go over your general security steps, and how you keep your house tidy and safe. This way, you will be on the same page, and not have anything to worry about. Less urgent matters, like where to place the mail and what to do with phone messages, should also be covered at some point.
Knowing that someone taking care of your property alone is a huge boost to your home security should be reason enough to consider the help of having a housesitter around the house while you are out of town. And just taking a couple of minutes to make sure that everyone understands the rules and needs of the arrangement is a simple way to come home just as happy as you happened to leave.
