For the homeowner, there is nothing for frightening than the thought of going on a summer vacation, returning home, and finding that some part of the house has fallen into disrepair, been vandalized, or been robbed. Whether it’s an act or burglary, a flooded basement, or even a faulty water heater, there is nothing more daunting than the thought of this unforeseen and unexpected property damage. And while there is no way for homeowners to avert such misfortune altogether, there are some ways to minimize the risk. HOA board members, share these Summer Safety Tips for Homeowners, and make sure everyone is doing whatever is possible to stay safe!
An obvious consideration to make is thwarting burglars, which means preventing it from being totally obvious that you’re on vacation or out of the house. Try to arrange for a trusted neighbor to bring in your trash and recycle bins, and also to fetch your newspaper and mail. An alternative is to simply have your mail and paper suspended until you return home.
It goes without saying that setting automatic timers on your lights can help lend the impression that someone is home; another strategy is to leave a car parked in the driveway.
Of course, a burst pipe—leading to a flooded basement or crawlspace—is another big threat. Avoid it by simply turning off your water before you leave. You may also drain your hot water heater to ensure no damage done from it.
Finally, if you do have a neighbor who you trust, leave an extra key with him or her—which will come in handy if, in the worst case scenario, there is a fire, flood, or some other issue that needs to be attended to before you return home.
There are many ways in which a summer vacation can end badly, but it doesn’t have to, and you don’t have to spend your entire trip worrying; simply follow these safety precautions and you’ll be doing all you can do to avert a crisis!
