Going on vacation is an exciting and rejuvenating activity. But before you book that flight, make sure your house isn’t an easy target for burglars while you’re gone.

Here are some tips on maintaining and even improving your home security, so you can enjoy your time off without worry.

1. Have someone check your house

Burglars typically make their move when they’re sure no one is home, so it’s important that someone you trust regularly checks your house – just having someone park in your driveway for several minutes may deter most home intruders.

Ask a friend or relative to check your house when you are away to make sure your doors are still locked and your windows shuttered. You can even ask them to do some chores for you, like watering your plants or caring for your pets. Just make sure to compensate them for their time and effort.

2. Invest in home automation

Burglars may catch wind of your absence, especially if they notice that your house isn’t lit every night. Set a timer for your indoor and outdoor lights to turn on just before it gets dark to create the illusion that you’re home. To throw them off further, try to set the indoor lights to turn on and off at random times instead of exactly the same hour and minute every night.

If burglars have been watching your house constantly, they are likely to notice a perfectly timed schedule of lights going off daily. Fortunately, many home security systems and timer models can be paired with your smartphone, so you can control the lights – even when you’re not home – using an app.

3. Have someone tend to your lawn

A well-kept lawn is a sign that a house is never left unattended, which may deter potential intruders from targeting your property. Find a neighbor’s kid, a friend or relative to periodically mow your lawn in the summer and clear snow from your driveway and sidewalk in the winter. Again, make sure to compensate them for their time and effort.

4. Have good insurance coverage

Even with precautionary measures, your home can still be targeted by intruders and thieves. The homeowner’s policy will often only cover damages done to the house, so having good insurance coverage ensures that you won’t have to replace stolen appliances yourself. (Related: Looking to improve your home security? Here are 25 things you can do right now.)

5. Do not advertise your vacation

These days, instant gratification is taken to another level with “likes” and “retweets” on social media. Unfortunately, this also means that internet safety often slips people’s minds because immediately uploading that picture of lounging on the beach takes precedence over precaution.

This behavior can alert potential evildoers, especially those who track your social media activity – just one picture is all it takes to tell them that you’re away on vacation and your house is left unattended. Consider hanging onto your photos and sharing them after you have returned home.

Keeping your home safe should always be at the forefront of your mind. Take advantage of the available technology to fortify your home security by installing security cameras at vulnerable spots and accessible entry points around your property, as well as security alarms.

Learn more about planning for your home defense system at Preparedness.news.

Sources include:

ReadyNutrition.com

Safety.com

IBTimes.com

SurvivalistPrepper.net