The Lights Are On But Nobody's Home: 6 Vacation Preparation Safety Tips

A house that's dark and quiet for days at a time is a red flag that says "I'm empty! My owners are on vacation!" Without the proper vacation preparation, it's easy for criminals to see that you're away from home. By preparing for a vacation with a nod to safety, you can ensure that your things remain in your home, where they belong, while you're away. Follow these six easy vacation preparation tips to ensure your home appears occupied while you're gone:

1. Use a light timer switch. Keeping your lights turned off all the time is a clear signal that you're not home. However, keeping the lights blazing through the night and day is also unnatural. A light timer switch will turn your lights on and off at programmed times. Place a light timer switch on lights located near the front of your house. Look for light timer switches that can be programmed to turn on and off at different times each day, so your home doesn't seem programmed to outsiders.
2. Place your radio on a timer. By allowing a little noise to drift from your house each evening, you create the appearance that someone is home. Keep the volume of the radio moderate, however, to prevent your vacation preparation technique from disturbing your neighbors. Choose a station that occasionally plays talk shows, so the sound of voices can be heard from outside your home.
3. Keep the driveway full. Sometimes, preparing for a vacation means asking for help. Ask a close neighbor to park his car in your driveway while you're on vacation. A parked car in the driveway is an excellent deterrent. Make sure your neighbor doesn't cut through the yard, leaving a tell-tale track of footprints from the car to his home.
4. Pick up the porch. Vendors often leave small slips of paper on your door, selling their wares. You may also get unexpected packages while you're away. Ask your neighbor to pick up your porch for you. This simple vacation preparation tip can ensure your home looks tidy and lived-in while you're gone--nothing says "Nobody's home!" like a package sitting on the porch for three days.
5. Keep your curtains slightly open. While you may be tempted to close your curtains and shutters tight while you're preparing for a vacation, doing so can give your home a dark, unoccupied appearance. Leave the blinds and curtains slightly open instead.
6. Empty your voice mail box. It's easy enough for someone to find out the phone number associated with your house number. If the criminal calls and discovers that the voice mail box is full, it becomes clear that you're gone and have been gone for a long time. Don't announce your vacation on your voice mail message, and clean out the messages frequently while you're away.