Before you leave for your well-deserved holiday, make sure your home does not become an advertisement for burglary while you're away. The last thing you need is to receive a call during your relaxing spa vacation to inform you that your home has been ransacked. Taking a flight back home will be torturous and your holiday would have gone to waste. Not to mention you have to spend fixing up your now plundered home.

Before such a disaster takes place, either you invest on a home security system or get a reliable house sitter that could also be a relative or a friend that you trust. It will all be worth it considering you are protecting your home as well as your family from potential housebreaks.

Security Companies

There are several reliable security systems in the market. Choose a company that is reputable and of course one that you are comfortable with because they will be, after all, the ones who will have access to your home for a long time to come. You can get quotations from different companies to make a fair comparison. Sometimes certain companies provide value added benefits, so do take a look at your options. You can ask for referrals, as these are reliable forms of suggestions and you can also get a firsthand look at how their systems work and are set up.

Don't forget to ask about the warranty that is included with the security system that you are buying. You might also want a representative to come and take a look at your home and give advice on which security is ideal for you. Lastly, read through your contract thoroughly. You need to understand their cancellation or termination policy in case you're not happy with their service.

House sitters or neighbours?

Either way you just want to make sure your house is safe while you're away. Leaving it to the hands of someone you trust will no doubt give you peace of mind. There are reliable websites that can direct you to your ideal house sitters or you can always post an advertisement looking for one. Some house sitters are willing to consider your needs in exchange for free accommodation in your home. Conscientious and responsible house sitters will have full documentation ready to prove to you that they are trustworthy and reliable. This documentation usually includes written references and email and phone contact details of referees. A house sitter should be happy to work through and sign a house sitting agreement with you as well as give you a security deposit if it's in the terms and conditions.

Here are a few tips to follow but in all, your main aim is to make sure your home looks lived in and not abandoned.

1. All windows and doors are closed and locked

2. If you have a garage or a shed make sure they are locked.

3. Put your valuables in a safety deposit or in your safe if you have any.

4. Never leave your spare keys around, under your mat or in the pots of your plants.

5. Draw your curtains during the day and close them at night. You can have your house sitter or neighbour do this for you.

6. If you have a driveway, ask a neighbour to park his car there to deceive burglars that someone's home.

7. Activate your security alarm but make sure you have given the pin to your house sitter or your neighbour.

8. Provide holiday contact information and instructions to your house sitter in case of an emergency.

9. Have your daily deliveries cancelled and get your neighbours to collect your mail so that your mailbox will not be flooded with letters.

10. Never leave your ladders and tools outside your home because this can create impulses for attempted burglary.

11. Never leave notes on your door stating that you're away.