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Before You Leave the House, II

Continuing where we left off yesterday, here are seven more tips:

1. Let your neighbors know that you are leaving and advise them of how long you will be gone. Tell them about anyone that will be stopping by to check on your home. Tell them what the person looks like, what kind of vehicle he or she drives, and any other important information, so your neighbors will not mistake the person for a prowler.

2. If you will be gone a long time, hire someone to come and cut your grass, rake your leaves, or trim the weeds while you are away. A neglected yard makes it obvious that the homeowner is away.

3. Stop regularly scheduled deliveries such as the newspaper and the mail. The post office will hold onto your mail and once you pick up all that has accumulated while you were away, you can resume delivery service. A full mailbox or a pile of newspapers make it obvious that no one is home.

4. If you travel often, or even if it would make you feel safer, you might want to consider having a home security system installed. Some are linked directly to live operators, who will call you and let you know there is a problem, even when you are away. Just make sure the security company knows that you will be out of town and that someone there knows how to reach you.

5. It may seem obvious, but you should not leave a message on your answering machine or voice mail that says you are not at home (this is true even when you leave for a short time, not just when you leave town). You should never leave a message that indicates the timeframe that you will be gone. Messages such as, “I’ll be away all week,” or “I’m away but will return Saturday,” are like invitations to a burglar. If your standard message says that you are not home but will return the call, change it to “I’m not available right now, but I’ll call you back,” or something to that effect.

6. Check your answering machine or voice mail regularly. If someone is calling to see whether or not your home, an unchecked system is a good clue that you are not there. Most systems offer a way to check your messages from another location. If yours does not, consider purchasing a new system, or have the person that is watching your house check your messages for you.

7. Even if you follow these guidelines, as well as those you have added to the list, it is still a good idea to let the local police know that you are going out of town so they can keep an eye on your home. They will usually send a patrol car past your house more often if they are aware that no one is home.

*Doing any or all of these things and taking other measures that are appropriate for your home will help you relax and make traveling less stressful.