Beyond the holiday shuttering

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Published Date 12/13/2024

Leaving your home for the holidays shouldn’t be a simple matter of securing doors and heading to the airport. If you’re the smart (and thorough) type, you know it requires a few additional measures to make sure everything stays safe, according to Realtor.com’s Shifrah Combiths.

“If you do just one thing: Lock your windows and doors,” she says. Then double-check to make sure everything is actually locked. And if you have a home security system, make sure to arm it,” says Combiths. She adds that if you have plenty of time before you leave, be sure to check off these home maintenance tasks as well: (1) Clean out your gutters (especially if you didn’t do it in the fall). (2) Trim branches that could fall on the house in a storm. (3) Have your water heater and HVAC system inspected to ensure proper functioning, and (4) Add extra insulation to the attic to prevent ice dams.

And if you’re keen on not permitting anyone to know you’re away? Put a hold on your mail. “Nothing points to an empty household like an overflowing mailbox or a pile of neglected packages on the front porch, but it’s easy enough to avoid.” Says Combiths. Be sure to set up vacation holds with USPS, FedEx, and UPS, or ask a friend, neighbor, or pet-sitter to bring your mail inside. “You might also consider leaving some blinds open or setting timers on smart lights indoors so that from the outside, it looks like the house is inhabited.”

Do temps fall below zero where you live? Then your pipes will love you if you think of them. Frozen pipes burst, so winterize them before you climb in that Uber to the terminal. “Turn off the main water valve, open outdoor spigots, and drip cold water from the faucet that’s farthest from your main valve,” says Combiths. “Insulate pipes that are in unheated areas of the home, and keep the thermostat above 55 degrees.”

As for monitoring your home from wherever you are, it might be time to upgrade to smart devices. Add smart cameras plus a combination floodlight-camera setup, which can be set to detect activity in certain areas. Choose a smart smoke detector like the Google Nest Protect, which sends smoke and/or carbon monoxide alerts directly to your phone. And consider installing smart water alarms in under-sink cabinets and near the washing machine and fridge to help you quickly detect any leaks.

Concerned about fires? Unplugging appliances while you’re out of town saves electricity costs by preventing phantom energy usage, protects your appliances from power surges, and helps prevent electrical fires. “Pay particular attention to unplugging appliances with heating elements, such as coffee makers, ovens, and toasters, but don’t forget TVs, washers and dryers, microwaves, and lamps,” says Combiths. “Speaking of fires, if it’s been a minute since you replaced the batteries on your smoke alarms, make sure to do so before you leave on vacation.”

Realtor, TBWS

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