subject: Home Security Tips When You Have A Vacation Home [print this page] Owning a vacation home is a luxury that most of us can only dream about as it affords you the ability to escape the city whenever youd like and to pass the time in a beautiful and new place. There are more security risks however, by virtue of the fact that you arent there very often and that the space remains empty for a large part of the year. It is very important that you take the proper precautions to ensure that your property remains safe and untouched during the year so that you can arrive to a quiet and relaxed home and begin your vacation.
For starters, it is imperative that you install a home alarm system, as you will need a system in place to alert the proper authorities in case of suspicious activity on the premises. Because you are only at the property a couple of times out of the year, it is crucial that you have a system in place that lets you know when there has been a break in or suspicious activity. You should activate the alarm at all times and have a neighbor check in on the property every so often just to make sure that everything is in order. Especially if it is a home, where you dont have a porter or someone watching the premises, it is critical that you get a permanent resident that you trust to check in every once in a while.
Also, make sure that you install a home security camera and link it to a monitor that either you, or a trusted neighbor can keep track of so that you can see the activity on the premises at all times. Very often transients or vagrants take up residents in homes that they know are uninhabited so you will have to keep a close eye on your property and make sure that no one gains access to your property. You may also want to install a gate or fence around the property so that you have an added barrier that will protect from people getting in. Make sure that it is an electric gate or that it has a durable lock as a fence with a latch simply will not suffice as it is too easy to gain entry.
You will have to be a bit more vigilant about your home security seeing as how you are not there often enough to monitor the premises or to keep a close eye on it. As long as you account for the act that you are not there but have a surrogate system of security in place, you should be fine and shouldnt encounter any issues. Make sure to make it seem as if the house is inhabited by ensuring that your mail is collected and that the front lawn is well cared for. In this way, you should be able to enjoy your vacation home whenever you please.
