It may seem as though home security tips for the summer should not be any different from any other time of the year. However, during the summer months, many people are much more relaxed than they are in colder weather and tend to be more lax about everyday routines. For this reason, it is common for basic security protocols to fall by the wayside. As tempting as it can be to get lost in the carefree summer months, it is vitally important to remain vigilant about keeping the home safe. Failure to do so could put both the home and family at risk.
One of the most important home security tips for the summer deals with people who tend to go on vacation during these months. In the age of smart phones and social media, many people post an update online about every move that they make throughout the day. Although a big vacation may be exciting news, it is important to resist the urge to post about it online until it has already happened. Even someone who thinks they know all of their online contacts puts themselves at risk by posting that they will be leaving their home unattended for any period of time.
When going on vacation, it is also a good idea to have a friend or neighbor check up on the home, bring in the mail, and help the home to appear as if someone is living there. It may be more convenient to simply have the mail and newspapers cancelled for the duration of the trip but it is not the best security option. Criminals will stake out a house and notice if there have been no cars in the driveway and nothing delivered to the home. This will appear, to them, as an option invitation to burglarize the empty house. It may even be a good idea to ask the friend to spend time in the house to make the effect more realistic.
Another important precaution is the use of outdoor lighting around the home. This is a general safety tip for people who will use their outdoors at night during warmer months but it applies to security issues as well. In particular, when a family is going away for a period of time, they should have lights that are set to a timer to go on each night. This gives the illusion that someone is living in the home and will deter criminals who may try to break in. However, this should not take the place of having an actual person come and check up on the house.
No matter what time of year it is, it is important to make sure that all of the windows and doors throughout the home are locked. Many people tend to leave their doors open with only screen doors or windows when the weather is warm. If this is how the household prefers to enjoy the warm weather, it is still important to make sure that the screens are secured. It is possible to enjoy the summer climate without putting the family at risk. If possible, close all windows and doors completely when the house is going to be left unattended.
All of these options are great ways to make sure that a home stays secure and that the family remains safe, but the best option is still a home security system. These systems not only alert the family if someone is trying to break into the home but they immediately call for help from local police. If a family will be leaving their home unattended for a period of days, weeks or months, this is the best way to make sure that their home and possessions will be safe. There are many different types of security systems available and it will be easy to find the one that works best for each situation.
Keeping the home safe is an important task throughout the year, but it requires special attention during the summer months. When the weather gets warmer, many people tend to relax and ease up on the precautions that are second nature throughout the rest of the year. Be sure to exercise common sense when it comes to posting vacation plans on social media and have a friend maintain the house. It is important to make sure that potential criminals believe someone is in the home at all times. As always, lock all windows and doors and consider getting a home security system.