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[L269]Lets Go On Vacation

by James Brown, Jam

So you are set to go to that much-longed for vacation cruise in the Caribbean. You can now say goodbye to those business phone calls, to those conference meetings, to those overtime hours, to those financial reports and figures and above all to the demands of your boss. Now all you can think of is lounging in front of that pristine pool basking in the heat of the brilliant bright sun with your favorite piña colada mix just an arm's reach away, thinking how your co-workers would admire your great tan when you get back. Albeit, let us have a small flashback. Are you sure that you were able to fix things before you stepped into the cruise ship? Is your home, that is now all alone, safe and sound? Did you make the appropriate measures to make sure that you still have a house to get back to after your vacation? You would not want to get all exhilarated during your vacation only to find out that your television and all other appliances are missing in action when you get home. Ensuring the safety of your home when you are away does not only mean not forgetting to lock up the front doors. Burglars and house thieves are keener and more perceptive these days so you have to be at least one step smarter than them. Here are a few tips that may help you get ready and at least give you presence of mind while you are on holiday.

When no one is going to be left at home while you are on vacation, it is essential that you are able to advise your close friends or relatives and the next door neighbors that you trust that you will be away for a number of days. By letting them know, you can be confident that there will be someone to check in on your house or on your apartment unit while you are out of town. Among other things, if you have a pet cat that you cannot take with, they can make sure that he still gets his daily meals. Also, make sure to tell them where you will be and leave a number where they can reach you in case of emergency. You would want to be informed if something important comes up.

It may help if you can employ devices that will confuse prospective house thieves. An example may be a radio with "wake and sleep" functions that you can program to turn on or off at specific times during the day. This should make people believe that someone is in and would most likely put them off and persuade them to cancel any of their wicked malicious plans. You may also want to have a talk with your regular newspaper delivery boy before you go. Make sure that he stops making those daily deliveries while you are away. The newspapers would definitely make a small pile on your front yard and that would be a good sign that the house is empty and no one is home. Again, thieves are greatly attracted to deserted homes.

One of the times your home is most vulnerable is when it is left empty for an extended period of time such as when the occupants are on vacation or on extended business trips. Darkened windows, none retrieved mail or newspapers and closed windows in hotter weather all tell of your absence to a potential burglar.

The best protection for your house or apartment during your absence is to have a house sitter.

A friend you trust staying at your house can take care of your pets and/or plants in addition to making sure the house is occupied. Of course this scenario is not always an option. Here are some precautions that should be taken by the owner or inhabitants to take before leaving on their trip away from home.

• Have a neighbor check on your apartment or house while you're away – turning on lights, radios or TVs and opening and closing curtains will give your apartment or house the appearance of someone home. It is not a good idea to just leave certain lights on steady while you are away.

• If you don't have a friend or neighbor to house sit or check your apartment while you're away – perhaps even if you do – you should keep not only lights on but also a TV or radio on at all times unless you have a timer which is recommended. If you're like many others you have your TV on almost all the time you're home, not for viewing but just as background noise. It is the absence of the sound and that blueish light in the windows that announces you're not there. Using readily available timers you could also have lights, radios, and TV's going on and off at different times adding to the illusion to a potential thief that someone is home.

• Make sure whoever is checking your apartment or house while you're away knows how to work any alarm system and who to call in case of a problem.

• Unless you have a house sitter, stop your mail by notifying the post office and any newspapers or other items that are delivered to your home on a regular basis. Nothing broadcasts an empty apartment or house better than a stack of newspapers or an overflowing mailbox. Ask a nearby neighbor if they could pick up any packages that happens to be delivered any way while you're gone.

• If you have a garden or plants on your balcony, make sure someone is watering the plants regularly or put the plants where they can't be seen. Plants slowly dying due to lack of water may announce your absence to the would be thief.

• If you rent check your lease. Many landlords require that you notify them if your apartment is going to be left empty for any period of time so they can enter in case of emergency even if they can't reach you. Naturally if you've got a house sitter this isn't necessary.

• If you are away from home in winter make arrangements to have your place shoveled and plowed. If you are away during the warmer months make arrangements for someone to mow your lawn if it looks like it needs some attention.

If you have a security alarm system installed make sure to use it every time you leave your home. Many homes are robbed when a homeowner leaves the home for a short period of time, either to run a quick errand or visit a neighbor and does not set the alarm because they will be right back. The burglars know of this routine and many homes are robbed at this time.

Also, on the subject of alarm systems. You see many homes and businesses display outside their property that there property is alarmed with the name of the alarm company on the signs. Many burglars make it a point to familiarize themselves with the various manufacturers of alarm systems so they can better disable or by-pass a particular brand system. It is much better just to display a generic sign saying the property is protected by an alarm system and leave it at that, leaving your property less of a target.

Of course, many of these recommendations are just common sense. With a little planning ahead and thinking on your part you can make sure there are no nasty surprises when you return from you vacation or business trip.

Article Source : Travel To Canada From The Us

About Author

Both James Brown & Bill Wallmuller Aka Mr. Merokee are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

James Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stroke Treatment, Computers and The Internet and Computers and The Internet. James Brown writes about ,. James Brown's top article generates over 20400000 views. to your Favourites.

Bill Wallmuller Aka Mr. Merokee has sinced written about articles on various topics from Travel and Leisure, Computers and The Internet. . Bill Wallmuller Aka Mr. Merokee's top article generates over 2400 views. to your Favourites.