Don’t worry about home security while you’re on your holiday, here are some simple things that you can do before you go away to make your home more secure.

1. Don’t make it obvious
Even if you want to make a quick getaway early in the morning, don’t leave your car full of luggage overnight, or clearly visible from the outside. Keep it in the hall ready for easy access just before you leave.

2. Consider an alarm and activate it!
If you have an alarm system, make sure it’s properly activated before you leave. If not, at least consider installing an alarm box on the outside of your home as a deterrent.

3. Make use of your community
It’s a good idea to have a trusted neighbour look out for your home and report problems while you’re away. It’s also useful to have someone who can deactivate your alarm if it goes off by mistake (especially if you want to keep on good terms with your other neighbours).

4. Don’t post details of your trip on social media
Social network pages are easy for criminals to monitor, so it’s a bad idea to be complacent about what you post. Keep the holiday chatter to a minimum until it’s time to come home.

5. Check your insurance policy before you travel
If the worst happens, it’s essential that you know you’re covered by your home insurance. Don’t assume anything – with many policies there’s a limit on how many days you can leave your home unoccupied and still make a claim.

6. Consider outdoor appearances
Opportunistic burglars will look for signs that a house is unoccupied, so having lights on timers and keeping curtains in a normal position are all good ways of keeping your home that little bit safer.

7. Ask a neighbour to pick up your post
Further to the above point, some burglars will look for signs that you are away by having a peek through the letterbox. A pile of unopened letters is an open invitation, so ask a neighbour to go in and pick up your post for you. All they need to do is move inside the house so that it can’t be seen. Alternatively, use Royal Mail’s Keepsafe scheme when you go away on holiday. It will keep letters and parcels for up to 66 days and deliver on your return. £14.00 for 17 days.

8. Report any problems with street lighting
A darkened street can make a home more appealing to burglars. If you’re having problems with streetlights in your area, make sure the local authority knows about it so that they can be fixed in good time.

9. Consider using background noise
If you can leave a radio on low without disturbing your neighbours, it’s probably a good idea to do so. Even moderate background noise can help deter someone who is scouting out a break-in.

10. Ensure all windows are sealed
Finally, the most basic tip of all is perhaps the most important. Open windows make it incredibly easy for intruders to enter your home, so make sure everything is closed tight before you head out. It’s especially important to check if you have children or teenagers, as they tend to be more lax in their security habits.

So there you have it – these few simple steps can give you a lot more peace of mind during your break, leaving you to relax and enjoy yourself.

It’s your home, let us help you create it. Waterstone Homes are here to help you make your vision for your new bespoke home a reality