How to Make It Look Like You’re Home When You’re Away

As much as we try to protect our homes by installing sturdy locks to secure windows and doors, there’s always the chance that a burglar will get past these protective measures. Since most break-ins occur when it looks like there’s nobody around to catch the thief in the act, it’s your job as a homeowner to make sure your home looks like it’s occupied – even when it’s not.

As you plan summer travel, here are a few ideas to help you do just that:

• Light up the house. While you don’t want to go overboard, having a few lights on throughout the house when you’re away from home is a good deterrent. Many people use a timer, but an even better option is to install a wireless system that can be controlled remotely. In this way, you can turn your lights off and on from wherever you are, even halfway around the world. This allows you to follow a more random pattern when turning your lights off and on, which will make it less likely someone will catch on that your lights are set to a timer.
• Leave the TV on. The colorful light cast from a television screen that can be seen through windows provides a good cover when you have to be away from home. You can even buy a device that will shine an array of lights on your curtains, mimicking the flickering of a television screen. This can be controlled by either a light sensor or a timer.
• Ask a friend to park in your driveway. If you’re going away for a week or two, it’ll be pretty obvious to potential burglars that you’re gone if there are never any cars parked in your driveway. Remember, the majority of break-ins are committed by people who live nearby, so chances are this is something they would notice. If you can, have a friend park an extra vehicle they’re not using in your driveway while you’re out of town, or have a neighbor who lives close to you park in your driveway instead of their own.
• Don’t neglect your exterior. It’s a pretty clear sign that no one is home if your grass is overgrown and your flowers are wilting. Any time you’re going to be gone for a prolonged period of time, make sure to hire someone to take care of exterior maintenance tasks for you, or call in a favor with a friend.

Need Help from Window Experts?

You want your home to have as much protection as possible when you’re away from home. One way to ensure this is to have high-quality replacement windows and patio doors from Renewal by Andersen of Northeast PA installed. Each of our windows and doors comes with a sturdy, secure locking system that will help keep out any uninvited guests, as well as the elements. To find out more about our windows and doors, contact us today at [company_phone].