Securing Your Home While on Vacation

Heading out on vacation should be exciting, not stressful. But many homeowners find themselves lying awake at night, wondering if their house is safe back home.

The statistics don’t help much either—burglary rates spike during vacation seasons, and unoccupied homes become prime targets for criminals looking for easy opportunities.
Taking the right precautions before you leave can transform that nagging worry into genuine peace of mind.

These proven security measures work together to create multiple layers of protection for your property.

Lock all doors and windows thoroughly

Every door and window in your home needs to be secured before departure, including basement windows and second-floor access points. According to ADT Security Company, 34% of burglars break into a home through an open window, making this step absolutely critical.

Double-check each entry point systematically, and consider upgrading to deadbolts if you haven’t already.

Remove all outdoor spare keys

Those ‘clever’ hiding spots for spare keys aren’t as clever as you think—experienced criminals know exactly where to look. Burglars know the best hiding places better than you do, whether it’s under doormats, in fake rocks, or inside flower pots.

Instead, give trusted neighbors a proper key or invest in a smart lock with temporary access codes.

Hold mail and newspaper deliveries

Nothing screams ‘nobody’s home’ quite like a pile of newspapers on your doorstep or an overflowing mailbox. The USPS offers a stop service that allows you to pause mail delivery for up to 30 days, preventing that telltale buildup.

Contact your newspaper delivery service as well, or arrange for a neighbor to collect everything daily.

Set up automated lighting systems

Smart lights or simple timers can make your home look occupied even when you’re thousands of miles away. Mine even has a vacation mode with random patterns, which is far more convincing than lights that turn on and off at exactly the same time each night.

Vary the timing across different rooms to create realistic patterns that suggest normal household activity.

Install motion sensor exterior lighting

Outdoor motion-activated lights serve a dual purpose: they deter potential intruders while making your property look actively monitored. Outdoor security cameras and motion sensor lighting can help scare away burglars, especially when positioned near common entry points like doors and ground-floor windows.

These lights also help legitimate visitors like pet sitters navigate safely around your property.

Secure your garage completely

Your garage often contains valuable tools and equipment that criminals can use to break into your main house. If you have an automated garage door, turn off the power and make sure the door is completely locked to prevent remote access through copied signals.

Store ladders, tools, and other equipment that could facilitate break-ins in locked storage areas.

Unplug non-essential electronics

Power surges from storms can damage expensive electronics, while malfunctioning appliances left running can pose fire risks. Unplug your large appliances, like your clothes dryer and expensive electronics, and even small appliances, like your coffee pot to protect against electrical issues.

This precaution also saves energy and reduces the risk of electrical fires when nobody’s around to notice early warning signs.

Adjust your thermostat settings

Extreme temperatures can damage your home and belongings while you’re away, but you don’t need to maintain full comfort levels. In winter, set the thermostat to at least 55°F (13°C) to prevent frozen pipes, while in summer, keep it cool enough to prevent humidity damage to furniture and electronics.

Smart thermostats allow remote monitoring and adjustment if conditions change unexpectedly.

Shut off your main water supply

Water damage from burst pipes or leaks can be devastating, especially when it goes undetected for days or weeks. Shutting the water off completely will ensure pipes can’t leak or burst unless you specifically need water running for plants or pets.

If you do keep water on, ask someone to check your home periodically for signs of leaks.

Store valuables in a safe location

Burglars typically spend only minutes inside a home, so they focus on easily visible and portable items. Store any identification materials you aren’t taking with you, such as passports and social security cards, in a safe, and hide electronics in unmarked boxes rather than leaving them in plain sight.

Bank safety deposit boxes offer additional security for extremely valuable items.

Arrange for lawn and yard maintenance

An overgrown lawn or unshoveled driveway signals an absent homeowner just as clearly as piled-up mail. Setting a timer for your sprinkler system ensures your lawn receives adequate watering during your absence, keeping it looking lush and lived-in, while hiring someone for mowing or snow removal maintains the illusion of occupancy.

Well-maintained landscaping suggests someone is actively caring for the property.

Test security system components

Your security system can’t protect you if the batteries are dead or sensors aren’t functioning properly. Check (and replace if necessary) all batteries in your home security devices before departure, including fire detectors, security cameras, and door sensors.

Test each component to ensure everything communicates properly with your monitoring service.

Coordinate with trusted neighbors

Neighbors who know you’re away can serve as your eyes and ears, spotting unusual activity that automated systems might miss. They know what belongs and doesn’t belong in the neighborhood- the strange parked car or someone walking behind the house, making them invaluable for detecting suspicious behavior.

Provide them with your contact information and clear instructions about what constitutes an emergency.

Keep social media plans private

Broadcasting your vacation plans online essentially advertises an empty house to potential criminals, including people you barely know who might see your posts. Remember that you’re also broadcasting to friends and friends of friends that you’ve checked out of your home when you share location updates or travel photos.

Save the vacation posts for after you return home safely.

Notify your bank and security company

Financial institutions and security providers need advance notice of your travel plans to serve you better while you’re away. Your bank will know not to flag your account for unusual spending activity, and your home security company will keep an extra watchful eye on your space when they understand your absence is planned.

This coordination prevents false alarms while ensuring genuine emergencies receive immediate attention.

Clean and secure outdoor areas

Outdoor furniture, grills, and decorative items can provide criminals with tools or targets, so secure anything valuable in locked storage. Lock up any expensive decor or gadgets from your yard, such as bikes or mowing equipment that might tempt opportunistic thieves.

Clean up debris that could blow around in storms and potentially damage windows or provide entry assistance.

Install visible security deterrents

Sometimes the appearance of security is just as important as the actual protection, since most criminals prefer easy targets over challenging ones. I make sure that my SimpliSafe Yard Sign is clearly visible from the road; so potential intruders know the property is protected before they even approach.

Security decals on windows and doors reinforce this message without requiring expensive equipment upgrades.

A secure foundation for worry-free travels

Modern home security has evolved far beyond simply locking doors and hoping for the best when you leave town. These comprehensive measures create overlapping layers of protection that address the most common vulnerabilities criminals exploit in vacant homes.

The combination of physical security, technological solutions, and community awareness provides robust protection that lets you focus on enjoying your vacation rather than worrying about what’s happening back home. Your peace of mind is worth the extra effort these precautions require.

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