Jingle bells, light displays, and presents all around. The Christmas holiday is closing in on us. And while you’re thinking about presents and decorations, BenBuysIndyHouses.com wants you to think about how to keep your home safe during Christmas.
How to Keep Your Home Safe During Christmas
That’s going to mean being extra vigilant with taking steps to protect your home from potential burglars and fire hazards. Let’s face it, thefts and burglaries increase during the holidays. And to make matters worse, the ease with which to do it has increased as well. That’s because more people are ordering online and having expensive items delivered directly to their homes.
We’re going to discuss the steps that you can take to make your home less of a target for burglars. Plus the ways to prevent fires so that you can enjoy your holiday season with the “normal” amount of stress.
Online Ordering Risks
Let’s begin our safety tips by ordering items online. If you’re ordering from a store, consider having the item shipped to the store and pick it up there. Many stores have developed easy and quick order pic- ups, and it will give you the peace of mind that your items will be safe. Another option is to ask your boss for permission to have it delivered to your work address.
Or you may want to purchase a delivery package locker where you provide the delivery drop-off instructions and the lock code when ordering. The carrier then puts the parcel into the secured parcel box, which will keep your packages safe until you can collect them and bring them into the safety of your home.
For very expensive or larger items, try to be home when the item is scheduled to be delivered. Or, if you can, when you get the notification that your item has been delivered, go home to take it inside.
Don’t Make it Easy for Thieves
Burglars are going to look for easy targets, so taking steps to make your home more difficult to burglarize will deter thieves quickly.
Many homeowners like to decorate for Christmas, which will include putting packages under the Christmas tree – which is most often displayed by a window. Don’t give burglars the opportunity they seek by making it easy for them to rob you. Make sure you have heavy curtains that are closed when you aren’t home.
You should also be careful of people who come to the door to sell you something, ask you to complete a survey, or even do political campaigning. Keep your storm door locked so that when you open your main door, you can speak without putting yourself in danger. Also, keep the main door close to your body so that the view inside your home is blocked.
Consider installing one of the many home security options that are out there, which includes:
- Motion detector lights
- Security cameras – especially at entry points and delivery points
- Alarm systems
- Ample lighting
Don’t Publicize Your Schedule
With so many people on social media these days, we have to be extra careful about posting travel plans and work schedules. Make sure your kids know this too so that they aren’t posting about an exciting upcoming trip you’re all taking. The thieves are watching. Just ask Kim Kardashian.
When you’re going to be out of town during the holidays, consider asking a neighbor to watch your home. It may seem “old school”, but notifying a trusting neighbor is still a good security measure. After all, they want to keep their home safe too, so making sure to keep an eye on yours when you’re out of town benefits them as well.
Ask your neighbor if they could keep your walkways cleared of snow or pay a service to do it – they won’t know that you’re out of town. And place a hold on your mail at the post office and with your newspaper delivery service. Using timers or smart bulbs and plugs to control the lighting so that it appears that you’re home is a great way to deter criminals.
Avoid Fire Dangers
Another safety measure to take with your home during the holidays is to avoid fire hazards. The National Fire Protection Association states that, on average, Christmas tree fires have resulted in deaths in one of every 32 reported home fires, compared to the average of one death per 143 total reported home fires.
Taking the following precautions can allow you to enjoy your holiday without the fear of a fire:
- Inspect light strands and electrical decorations
- Don’t use too many strands or overload your outlet
- Keep your tree filled with water daily, an average tree soaks up a gallon of water per day
- Use lighting that takes batteries
- Keep all combustibles a minimum of three feet from heat sources
- Don’t leave the kitchen when cooking
- Don’t leave decorations on when sleeping at night or when not at home
- Keep candles in a safe place, and make sure there is nothing above them. Be sure they’re on stable surfaces and don’t forget to extinguish them when leaving. Get in the habit of burning candles for only one hour at a time.
By all means, make sure you’ve replaced the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. And if you didn’t know, these devices do have an expiration date so be sure yours are current.
Ben Buys Indy Houses wishes you and your family good tidings this holiday season. When the tinsel settles, and you’ve gifted yourself out of house and home, consider selling your home for cash – and fast – contact BenBuysIndyHouses.com today to see how.
