Ways to help keep your home safe while you're traveling

Preparing for a vacation can be exciting—but before you can kick back and relax, you'll need to make sure your home is protected while you're gone.

Fortunately, there are some simple do’s and don'ts you can keep in mind to keep your home and property safe in your absence.

Things you should do before traveling

Before you even pack that suitcase, here are a few things you can do to protect your home from things like burglaries, break-ins, fires, and other catastrophes.

1. Invest in a security system

Simply having a security system in place can be enough to deter potential burglars. In fact, in a survey of convicted burglars conducted by the University of North Carolina, 80% reported that they would check to see if a target home had a security system before attempting a break-in—and 60% reported that they would go elsewhere if a home did have a system in place.

Mail piled up in your mailbox and packages left at your door can signify to potential burglars that you're not home. Fortunately, you can request a hold on your mail through the United States Postal Service by either filling out a request online or visiting your local post office branch.

4. Lock up your valuables

If a burglar does break into your home, they'll likely be heading straight for common hiding spots for things like jewelry, cash, and other valuables. This includes bedside or desk drawers, vanities, and closets.

Before embarking on your trip, consider locking up these kinds of valuables in a safe or other secure location. Ideally, valuables should be stowed away with other important documents (such as Social Security cards and birth certificates) in a fireproof and water-tight safe for added protection.

5. Set up timers for lights

You can also make it less obvious that you're away on vacation by setting up lights around your home on timers. This way, some combination of exterior and interior lights will turn on and off at various times of day, making it look as though the home is occupied. These days, Wi-Fi-connected smart devices (such as light bulbs and outlets) make it easier than ever to control your home's lighting from afar, either manually or with automatic timers you set up with an app so you have one less thing to think about while you're away.

If you tend to keep spare keys hidden on your property in the event that you're locked out, it's also important to remove those keys before you leave on vacation. The last thing you need is for a burglar to catch wind that you're away from home and locate a spare key under your doormat.

If you need to leave a spare key with anybody (such as a neighbor or pet sitter), make sure that it's somebody you completely trust—and that you get the key back as soon as you return.

Ideally, you won't leave any spare keys behind at all. Consider installing a smart lock on your property that allows you to give pet sitters and other trusted individuals a temporary access code to unlock your door. Then you can disable or change the code as soon as you get home.

3. Don't leave an empty driveway

If you normally park in your driveway, leaving it empty for an extended period can signal to would-be burglars that you're not home. With this in mind, it may be a good idea to either leave a car in your driveway while you're gone (if possible) or to ask a trusted neighbor to park their car in your driveway occasionally. This will help create the illusion that your home is occupied and that people are coming and going.