5 Tips to Protect Your Home During the Holidays

View of Wilmington North Carolina from across the river

While the holidays in December make it the most wonderful time of the year, it’s important to take the necessary precautions to keep your home and family safe. Enjoy the holiday season this year and have some peace of mind with these five tips!

Keep Any Travel Plans Private

If your holiday season requires traveling to visit and spend time with family, be sure to keep your travel plans off your social media networks. Posting where you are going, when you are leaving, or when you will be back is prime information for a thief, informing them when your house will be empty.

Ask Your Neighbors for Help

If you have a trusted neighbor nearby, let them know if you are planning to go out of town during the holiday season. They can keep an eye on your house, pick up your mail, and report any suspicious activity while you are gone.

Hide Your Gifts

It’s hard enough to hide gifts from children during the holidays, but have you also considered potential burglars? Wrapping gifts and placing them under your tree can be a visual invitation for a burglar. When you aren’t home, they can quickly break through a window and grab all your gifts. Avoid this by positioning your tree away from windows or other highly visible areas in your home.

Inspect Your Holiday Lights

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, December is the worst month for electrical fires. Prevent any accidental holiday fires by inspecting your string lights for any frayed cords or damaged lamps before putting them on your house or tree. Also, be sure to turn any holiday lights off when you go out for the evening.

Invest in Home Security

With new advances in technology today, home security doesn’t have to have an extravagant cost. New home automation devices controlled by a tablet, computer or smartphone allow you transform and tailor your home into a smart, secure home. Whether it’s sensors, cameras, locks, or light switches, there are a wide variety of devices available in the market today that can be customized to your needs and budget.