In the blink of an eye we have made it to the penultimate month of 2017, and the December holidays are literally days away.
Isn’t it just crazy how time flies?
With South Africans the nation over preparing passports and getting vehicles serviced in preparation for the festive season break, many fail to prepare their homes for the time they won’t be there.
For this reason, we’ve listed four essential actions to prepare your home security for the holidays below!
Don’t worry, you’re in safe hands…
Let Your Alarm Company Know
The first thing you’ll want to do before hitting the road this December is to let your alarm company know that you won’t be home for a period of time.
Why do this?
When your alarm goes off, your home security company calls you, right?
So, if they know you aren’t home, instead of wasting time trying to get hold of you should the alarm go off – they’ll proactively dispatch an armed response unit.
The time saved could be the difference between having to fix a forced-open gate, and having to replace the contents of your home.
Check Your Locking Mechanisms
While this might seem like a no-brainer, checking your door and window locks is probably the most important aspect of preparing your home security for the holidays – and something many fail to remember.
Ensure not only that your door and window locks are operational, but also that they are secure. While your windows might lock properly, the actual locking mechanism attached to the window might be loose.
All it takes is a home invader with a screw driver and some patience to shimmy your window lock off of the window, and they’ll have access to your entire house.
As an added layer of home security, lock as many doors within your home as you can. This will ensure that, should home invaders make it into a window, they won’t be able to get much further than that room.
Bolster Your Psychological Home Security
An important aspect of your home security is how potential home invaders perceive your home and its level of security.
A home that looks secure, without actually having to be that secure, has a smaller chance of being targeted than a home that has clear security flaws.
So, make it look like you’re actually at home by leaving a few curtains open. Closed curtains – especially during the day – is like a neon sign above your house saying NOBODY’S HERE, ROBBERS WELCOME.
Also, ask your neighbours if they wouldn’t mind emptying your post box once a week. An overflowing post box is another clear indication that nobody’s home.
Consider Where You’re Advertising
The last aspect of your home security you should keep in mind is where you’re advertising your holiday getaway.
Social media channels have become hubs of criminal intelligence, and if you’re telling people that you won’t be at home for a while – this information could land up in the hands of criminals.
Should you wish to have your home and its security assessed before you head off on your vacation, contact Wonder Bars and we’ll arrange a home security assessment! For more solid home security tips and advice, check out our Wonder Bars blog page here.
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