Are You a Snowbird? Take these Steps Before Leaving for the Winter to Protect Your Home
| 3 min read

If you are a snowbird planning to fly south this winter, there are several precautions you should take so you don’t have to worry about your home while you are away. Burglaries occur every 14.6 seconds in the United States, totaling more than 400,000 home invasions at night. Ensure you take the necessary steps and precautions to protect yourself and home against home invasion while you are way.
Before you leave, there are several things you can do to ensure that when you return home, everything is exactly as you left it:
- Take an inventory of your belongings. Have a list of everything in your home that’s of value, from furniture to jewelry. One easy way to do this is to take photos of each room so you can remember where items are located. Create a list of your items and value that you can keep in a safe place.
- Clean up your yard. Place all valuables like your gas grill or nice fire pit in a secure place, such as a locked shed or garage.
- Arrange for landscape care. An overgrown lawn is an obvious sign that no one is home. Hire a lawn service to attend to outside needs, such as snow removal or shoveling sidewalks. And make sure that shrubs stay trimmed so burglars can’t hide in thick brush.
- Tell someone you’ll be out of town. Inform any trusted neighbors that you’ll be gone and leave them with a number they can reach you in case of an emergency.
- Inform your local police department. For extra protection, ask your local police department or neighborhood watch committee to be on the lookout for any unusual activity near your home.
- Use light timers. Have your lights automatically go on and off makes your home look occupied and deters burglars.
- Put your mail and newspapers on hold. A huge pile of mail on the front doorsteps is an instant tip-off that no one is home. Have it forwarded to your winter address or place your mail on hold.
- Bring in any hidden keys. If you normally leave a key hidden outside your home, bring it inside. Additionally, ensure you do not leave your garage door opener outdoors in a car.
With these tips in mind, you will be ready to embark on a trip south where your only worry will be ensuring you apply enough sunscreen. Are you looking for other vacation tips such as how to maintain your healthy diet or stay active while away from home? Read these blogs: