It's vacation time, time to go to the beach or to the mountains to disconnect and rest. In summer we take our suitcase, our life and move it to another place where we can have a good time for a while; for some a long time and for others, a little shorter.
You already have the trip organized, tickets, rent or hotel, suitcases... but what about the house? Do you already have everything ready to leave your home prepared while you are away?
Preparing your summer is very important, but it is also important to dedicate some time to some details so that our house is safe and protected while we are away. Protected from accidents, theft or other incidents that you want to avoid. It is not only about not leaving the doors and windows open, but also about taking other measures that will avoid possible problems and that at the same time will help us save money while we are not occupying our usual habitat.
To help you in the process, we have compiled a list of the most important things you should take into account regarding your home before going on vacation:
- Turn off the main water tap: if you turn off the main water tap you will not have to check one by one, not only if there is a small leak, but also for any change in pressure that may cause damage to the pipes or something worse like a flood. So closing the general faucet, we avoid any kind of problem.
- The electrical panel: In the new installations you have the option of lowering the leads by zones, so you can leave some electrical appliances with electricity in case you leave for a few days and do not want to turn off the refrigerator, for example. In older installations where we cannot do this, we advise you to unplug or turn off as many electrical appliances as possible (do not leave them on standby).
- Establish good relations with your neighbors: it is always good to have a close neighbor with whom you trust to leave the keys in case something happens. In addition, they will be concerned to be aware of the situation and will be able to act accordingly.
- Unplug the refrigerator: If your trip is going to be long, the best thing you can do is to empty and unplug the refrigerator, as you will save a significant amount on the electricity bill, also, if by bad luck there is a power outage all the food will spoil and you will find an unpleasant surprise when you get home. In the market there are many refrigerators that have vacation function that maintain the minimum temperature to consume as little as possible.
- Leave everything clean and change the linen: It is important not to leave garbage at home, as it will produce bad smells and more dirt, as well as wet clothes or laundry.
Next on our list, what is probably most important:
- Take care of security to prevent break-ins:
Summer is a perfect time for these types of claims. It is estimated that approximately 40% of home burglaries occur during the months of July, August and September.
Before leaving on vacation it is important to check that we leave the house well insured. Besides reviewing that we take all the luggage, we must verify that the doors and windows of the house are well closed not to give facilities to the thieves.
It is necessary to verify that the doors that give to patios, basements and gardens are well closed with key. Another important fact is not to hide the keys nearby, neither in mailboxes nor in flowerpots because that is where the thieves are going to look for them first.
Do not comment on your vacation plan or post it on your social networks and also ask a neighbor to pick up your mail, so that it is not noticed that you are not there and with the same purpose do not close the blinds completely, leaving even a small light on so that the house seems inhabited.
If you have an alarm, it is best to leave it connected, since it is the best way to avoid "undesirable intruders". As a deterrent it is an effective alternative, which can deter more than one burglar from attempting to break into the house.
However, having a security alarm is usually not enough. It is advisable to combine the installation of home alarms with other measures that make up a comprehensive home security system.
Security devices help to make it more difficult for burglars to break in and can dissuade theft during the vacations. Home automation and new home security devices offer a multitude of devices to prevent home burglaries.
In the northern area of Madrid, in the urbanizations of La Moraleja, El Encinar, El Soto de la Moraleja and in Ciudalcampo, Fuente del Fresno and Santo Domingo we have, for example, private security. There are vehicles that drive through the streets of our urbanizations and constantly watch over us so that we feel safe in and out of the holiday period.
This is a very positive point for all the neighbors of the area that has a plus of tranquility.