Holiday Home Security Checklist

The Christmas period is all about family. During this time of year, scattered family members reunite in an uncle’s or grandparent’s house, spending the holiday together. However, winter is also the season of criminals. Burglars are prowling the streets, looking for abandoned buildings they can loot while the occupants are away. So before embarking on a holiday season getaway, make sure to make a checklist not only for the stuff to pack, but also for your home’s line of defense. It’s more than advised to check the batteries of your alarm equipment, and test the integrity of your system to avoid nasty surprises. Burglars are not the only potential cause of trouble while away: make sure your home is also safe from harsh winter weather conditions.

This tip may sound trivial, but homeowners often forget to check the battery level of their cellular alarms, and only snap on their forehead when they get a low battery notification while away from home. There is nothing worse than having your alarms go dead while you are away. Asking the neighbor to go to your house and replace them would only raise suspicion. So don’t let this step for the last minute. Check your security devices to see which kind of batteries your equipment needs, then visit the store to buy some spare ones. Systematically check every device, and see for yourself whether they are doing ok, or need a fresh power supply.

Even after you left the house, you should do frequent security checks. If you have cameras installed, then it’s likely you can access the live footage from your smartphone. This is a security measure worth testing before departing. Even though most alarms sends you a notification when triggered, seeing the undisturbed rooms with your own eyes put your mind at ease. And a last advice: if you have smart lightings installed, then schedule them to turn off for a brief amount of time, preferably after dark. This would paint a picture that the building is still occupied.