Whether it’s Terravita Scottsdale where I sell a lot of homes, or a house in another neighborhood, you want to protect it while on vacation. Burglars are waiting their chance to break-in and steal your belongings. But you want to give them a reason not to pick your home in Terravita. Here are a few things you can do to help keep your belongings safe while you’re away.

 

For one, add a security system. You can either hire a professional company to install an alarm system at your Terravita home, or you can buy a do-it-yourself alarm. DIY alarm systems can run from roughly around $200-$300.

 

You can also get a Wi-Fi doorbell at your Terravita Scottsdale home. The doorbell videotapes visitors at your door and sends it to your smartphone. The doorbell is about 3”x3” so might not fit on every door frame. The device must be hard-wired before it’ll work.

 

Another thing you can do to deter burglars while you’re on vacation is to change your lights. If thieves are casing your Terravita Scottsdale home, chance are, they’re noticing when your lights go on and off. Many people who go on vacation like to put house lights on a timer, with them coming on and going off at the same time everyday. Thieves take note of this. The solution?  Smart lighting technology and home automation packages. You can either buy a smart home system that alternates a lighting schedule or you can turn on lights, dim them, turn them off, etc. from another state or even country!

 

On the subject of lights, make sure you have enough lights outside your home. Motion-activated lights are even better. The more lights, the less attractive your Terravita Scottsdale house will be to thieves. 

 

It’s always good to let your nearby neighbors know you’re going away so they can keep an eye on your home. Also, consider stopping mail delivery. Thieves could take note of an overfilled mailbox. But it works both ways. Burglars could also notice mail is not delivered to your Terravita home. The best advice is to have neighbors pick it up. Ask your neighbors, as well, to collect any fliers or door hangers on your front door.

 

It may seem like common sense, but make sure all your doors and windows are locked before you leave. Statistics show that 30-percent of all home invasions occur through unlocked windows and doors. 

 

Finally, don’t post on social media sites that you’re on vacation. Nothing like telling thieves that you’re away. Either set your profiles to private or wait until you get home to post photos.