The countdown to a holiday is always exciting, but it often comes with that nagging, low-level anxiety. You know the feeling: you’re sitting at the airport gate, suddenly wondering if you locked the back door or left a window open.
Leaving your house empty shouldn’t cast a shadow over your trip. With a bit of smart planning, you can properly secure your home, shut the front door with total confidence, and actually enjoy every single second of your well-earned break. Here is how to keep things safe while you’re away.
Keeping your property organised with professional house clearance services can also help improve security by reducing clutter and making your home easier to monitor.
Lean on Your Local Network
If you have family nearby, or a neighbour you get on well with, ask them for a quick favour. Hand over a spare key and see if they mind popping in once or twice a day. Having someone pull the curtains at night, open them in the morning, and scoop the post off the doormat completely ruins the illusion that the house is empty. It is also worth looking into your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme. It is just an extra layer of community eyes keeping an eye out for anything unusual. If your street doesn’t have one, it might even be worth chatting with a few neighbours to see if they fancy setting one up.
Take a Hard Look at Your Windows and Doors
Burglars are opportunists, and they can spot ageing, flimsy, or poorly fitted windows and doors from a mile off. If your locks are looking a bit tired or your frames have seen better days, upgrading them is one of the best investments you can make. Modern windows and doors come with vastly superior multi-point locking mechanisms. Yes, it is an upfront expense, but the massive boost to both your home security and your peace of mind makes it entirely worth it.
Get a Proper Alarm System
A visible, high-quality alarm system is one of the most effective deterrents. If you are going to get one fitted, skip the cheap DIY fixes and invest in a specialist-fitted, British Standard-approved system. It might feel like a chunk of money to fork out initially, but compared to the emotional and financial toll of a break-in, there is simply no competition. Just remember to have it serviced annually so it doesn’t let you down when you need it most. To check whether an installer provides genuine British Standard-approved alarm systems, look for recognised industry accreditation.
Keep Your Plans on a Need-to-Know Basis
This one sounds obvious, but it is incredibly easy to forget when you are excited. Avoid broadcasting your countdown or posting airport selfies while your house is sitting empty. Advertising an empty property on social media, or chatting loudly about your travel dates on a busy train, can easily attract the wrong kind of attention.
For further information about our clearance services, call 0203 9859552 to speak with National Clearances.