SECURITY TIPS IF YOU ARE GOING AWAY

A few security tips if you are going away:

-        Neighbour to have a key and regularly visit property.  Neighbour also to be aware of any visits by pool maintenance, gardener and/or cleaner or friends.  It is also helpful if the neighbour has contact details, ie phone and email, in case there is any emergency during your absence.

-        Ensure plants in pots/hanging baskets are watered

-        Remove any seasonal decorations/ornaments, eg xmas decorations immediately after the xmas holidays 

-        Arrange for neighbour to open/close curtains and/or blinds at different times/on different dates

-        Arrange for neighbour to open/close gates at different times/on different dates

-        Arrange for neighbour to remove flyers/post from the postbox

-        Use plug in timers so that lights come on around the house – weekly timers are now available so times can be varied.  Devices are also available that allow you to switch lights/appliances on and off around the house from your mobile phone and/or laptop

-        Ask neighbour to put a bag of their refuse in your bin house once a week so it appears that you are in residence

-     Ensure any ansamachine message on the phone does not say 'we are away but back xxx' - any message should be vague, ie 'too busy to come to the phone at the moment, etc'.

-     Check that any shutters fitted are secured and locked in the closed position and try to ensure there is noise [eg a radio on timer] inside the property.  Also lighting from non-shuttered windows at selected times is useful.