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Make an arrangement with a neighbor, friend
or relative to check your home periodically.
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If a friend or neighbor cannot collect your
mail, make arrangements for it to be held at the Post Office.
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Arrange for lawn care or snow removal. Ignoring
these areas will make your house stand out in the neighborhood
and announce to everyone that you are gone.
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Arrange for someone to start your car during
very cold or very hot weather.
-
Purchase automatic light timers for lights
and a radio. Plug a cheap radio into a timer so you can have
some noise in the house during part of the day.
-
Check your insurance for expiration dates
and coverage for your automobile, home and the valuables that
you'll take with you, as well as those you'll leave at home.
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Put your valuables and jewelry in a safety
deposit box. If you don't have, or can't
get access to a safety
deposit box, you still want to hinder a hurried burglar by hiding
valuable items in your house.
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Notify the local police and security system
company to immediately consider any alarms as real. Leave with
them the names of anyone responsible to watch over your house.
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Move houseplants away from direct sunlight,
water thoroughly and wrap pots with plastic. Most plants can
then live without further watering for two weeks.
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Empty the refrigerator of items that might
spoil.
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Cancel or hold your newspaper delivery.
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You might want to turn your refrigerator
to its lowest setting.
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Turn water heater down to the lowest setting.
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Turn your air conditioner up in summer.
You want to reduce your bills, but you may have to keep the
house from getting too hot to protect your pets and electronics.
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Turn your heat down or off in spring or
fall. Be sure to leave the house warm enough in the winter.
You may want to reduce your bills, but you may need to keep
the house from getting too cold to protect your pets and water
pipes.
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Leave shades or drapes as you normally do.
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Lock all doors and windows including basement
& garage.
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Unplug electronic items, such as, your computer
to protect them if you have a storm while you’re gone. Remember
to unhook your phone line from the modem. Unfortunately, you
may have to leave it all hooked up if your computer is your
only answering machine. Make sure your surge protectors are
properly installed.
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Pack the car inside the garage, with the
door down, so people driving by won't find out you’re leaving.
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Disconnect the garage door. Unplug it if
you can, don't pull the fuse for the garage door until you verify
the fuse isn't hooked up to something that needs to stay on,
such as, your refrigerator or maybe a freezer in the garage.
