BBB Offers Tips for Securing Home While on Vacation

We may be well into summer, but it is still the middle of vacation season.

With that in mind, the Better Business Bureau of northeast Georgia recently offered some tips to help people secure their home while they are on vacation.

Northeast Georgia Better Business Bureau President Fred Elsberry said one of the biggest things to remember if someone is going on vacation is for that person to be discreet about who they share vacation details with.

“One of the cardinal rules with Facebook is do not put all these things on Facebook talking about where you are when you are not at home,” said Elsberry, who added that lets people know you are not home.

Also, Elsberry said people going on vacation should take steps to make sure that it still looks like someone is home, even if nobody is.

“Put a hold on your mail and newspaper deliveries,” said Elsberry. “You just want to make sure your home looks lived in.”

He suggested to have lights on timers and garbage pulled in and out by someone at the appropriate times.

Elsberry said another tip to making a home look lived in is to keep hedges and bushes around the home trimmed and hire a house or pet sitter.

Other tips include checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, unplugging electronics, considering installation of a home security system, and of course, making sure the home is completely locked up before leaving.