Whether it’s a day trip to White Rock or a weekend getaway on Bowen Island or a two-week adventure in the Okanagan Valley, you expect to find your home exactly as you left it. But things can happen even in a short span of time – a very windy day, a sudden hail storm, a pest invasion, burglars. Keep your property safe from theft, vandalism, overflowing gutters, and potential damage to your siding with these useful tips when you go on vacation.
The Gutter System
Clean the gutters and downspouts. It might not rain while you’re away, but if it does, a debris-free gutter system ensures no overflowing, preventing a flooded basement or stained siding
Getting rid of accumulated leaves and twigs in the gutters spoils any future in-residence plans of squirrels, birds, and mice.
If the gutter system doesn’t need cleaning before you go on holiday, inspect the gutters and downpipes for loose hardware, disconnected downspouts, or sagging gutter sections. Fix what you can. You don’t won’t to return from holidays and find sections of gutter on your front lawn.
Your Home’s Exterior
Inspect the roof, vents, siding, and entry doors for worn shingles, damaged flashing, missing panels, and gaps. Sealing small openings and replacing shingles and flashing in damaged areas can save you from having to deal with invading pests, mould growth, and other unpleasant surprises.
We can get some windy days in the lower mainland. Before you go on holiday, make sure trash and recycling bins have been emptied and are secured in place. Put away patio furniture, store the barbeque, and remove any other items that might be blown around in a wind storm.
As an extra safety measure, remove anything, especially a ladder, leaning against siding that can be used to gain entry into your home.
Inspect fences for any broken or missing hardware, holes, or loose/missing boards. Fill in areas where animals can burrow under the fence. Check to see that gates close easily and stay latched.
The Lived-In Look
When you’re away on vacation, plan to make your home looked lived in. Cut the grass, rake the lawn (leftover spring blossoms, etc.), and sweep the driveway.
If you’ll be gone for more than four days, ask a friend or neighbour to park their car in your driveway and empty the mailbox of mail/flyers.
To make it look like you and your family are still there, use timers to switch lights on and off both inside the house and outside.
Home Security
If you have a home security system, inspect interior and exterior components such as motion detectors and cameras to ensure they are working properly.
All windows and doors should be locked upon leaving the house at the start of the holiday.
To prevent burglars from getting inside the house through the garage, activate the vacation lock on your garage door opener or unplug the motor unit, disabling electronic access.
To deny burglars “easy” entry, install specialized locks on sliding glass doors.
Smart technology is great. But don’t undermine your home security system by hiding a key to the front door under the welcome mat or underneath a planter.
