Moving can provide a lot of benefits. Working with a long-distance moving company and moving to a larger state or city allows you to earn more and land in a stable career. Your children will also have the opportunity to study in better schools after moving.
But moving also comes with several risks. Even if you worked with a moving and storage company, your home and family could still be in danger, especially during the holidays. Neighborhoods are usually busy during this time of the year, making it easy for thieves to break into homes and steal.
For you to keep your home safe and family during the holidays, take the time to implement the following tips:
- Don’t Announce Your Travel Plans
Social media is part of everyone’s lives. These platforms allow you to connect with other people and share real-time updates.
However, when it comes to your family’s travel plans for the upcoming holidays, it’s best if you keep this information offline. Announcing when and where you’re heading for the holidays will make it easy for burglars and thieves to determine when your home is empty. Usually, this information is enough for them to plan out their schemes.
- Inform Your Neighbors If You’re Leaving
Making healthy relationships with your neighbors is important but can be nerve-wracking. This is especially true if you’re new to the neighborhood.
Instead of stressing out what to talk about, initiate conversations with your neighbors by letting them know that your family is leaving for the holidays. Ask them to keep an eye on your home while you’re away. Make sure to leave your contact numbers with them so they can immediately notify you the moment they notice something strange in your home.
You can ask the favor by inviting your neighbors for dinner at your house or delivering freshly-baked cookies to their doorstep. You’ll be hitting two birds with one stone with these techniques – you can keep your home safe while you’re away, plus you’re making connections with your neighbors.
- Hide Christmas Gifts
It’s common for homes to display Christmas trees and place gifts underneath. This is a tradition observed by countless families for generations.
However, when you’re not at home, you should never leave these gifts in plain sight. Doing this will make your home susceptible to burglars and thieves. If these people see that your Christmas tree is filled with gifts, they will likely break your glass windows in order to get in.
Make sure that this doesn’t happen by hiding your Christmas gifts. These should be placed in an area that isn’t visible from the outside. If possible, place them in cabinets and trunks inside a room. Never leave your Christmas gifts in your living area as this can easily tempt burglars and thieves to break in.
- Consider Your Upcoming Packages
A lot of people rely on online shopping for their Christmas gifts. Aside from being cheap, buying
items online is very convenient.
If you’re expecting packages on the dates when the family will be out of town, make adjustments to your delivery information. You can leave notes in your order to instruct the courier where they should leave the package.
As much as possible, your packages should never be left on your porch. Seeing packages outside your home will entice burglars and thieves to get these items and even steal more inside your house.
- Utilize Technology
Keeping your home and family safe during the holidays doesn’t have to be challenging. There are now tools and equipment that make it easy for you to keep an eye on your investment and loved ones 24/7.
For you to have peace of mind, invest in tools that can monitor the activity of the people inside and outside your home. A doorbell camera, for example, allows you to identify the person in your front door even before opening the door.
Depending on your budget, you can also surround your home with cameras, carbon monoxide detectors, and smart locks.
Implement Countless Strategies
Moving to another location can improve your own and your family’s quality of life, but this change can also make everyone susceptible to thieves and other kinds of dangers. New families will usually become the target of thieves and scammers.
Aside from your own efforts, make sure that you follow all of the tips in this article. The more strategies you use, the better chances you’ll have in staying safe during the holidays!