Ever heard the saying, “two weeks off is often followed by two off weeks?” To avoid turning those off weeks into unpleasantness, you might want to take the time to set your house in order prior to leaving for an extended journey in your RV. Properly securing your home will allow you to return from your RV travels and catch up on some well-needed rest and relaxation instead of being overwhelmed with concerns that arose during your absence.

Be Proactive

Security is the top concern of an unattended home, and homeowners who have fallen prey to theft could often have prevented the break-in by taking proactive steps. Before leaving, take the time to examine your property as if you were a criminal looking for an easy target. Walk around the house and yard to inspect points of entry. Is your property an inviting target? Look closely at landscape. Is there anything you can do to deter a potential burglar? For example, thorny bushes planted in strategic places make a natural barbwire fence, a simple but effective barrier. Make sure, however, that the vegetation does not provide cover for someone interested in getting into your home. Shrubs should be trimmed regularly to avoid obscuring windows and doors.

Remove limbs that allow access to upper levels. If renovations are going to be performed while you’re away, confirm that ladders and scaffolds will be removed from the premises when work has concluded each day.

A continuous burning porch light and closed window shades are sure signs that no one is home. Instead, you may want to install yard lights equipped with a photocell that allow the lights to come on at dusk and turn off at daylight. Place motion lights in dark corners of the yard to ward off uninvited company.

All exterior doors should be constructed of metal or solid wood. If the door does not sit tight on the frame, install weather stripping for better seating. All exterior door hinges should be positioned on the interior to prevent hinges from being removed by someone standing outside. Do any of your doors have a mail slot or dog entrance? If so, satisfy yourself that these openings will not allow an unwanted intruder from gaining entry to the home.

Lock Lingo

Locks should be placed on all doors and windows of the home and garage, as well as gates offering access to backyards. Key-in-knob locks involve a latch assembly, and chassis, inserted into predrilled holes in the door. Secure models have a hardened steel pin accompanying the beveled latch. Key-in-knob locks are the most common exterior door locks, but can be jimmied easily with a credit card or prying tool. Adding dead-bolts to key-in-knob locks is an excellent way to improve security. Use at least a one-inch bolt should you choose this method. That means the throw of the bolt, or the part that sticks out from the door, should be one inch. Use a dead-bolt that has extra long screws to reinforce the strike plate, which is the opening that houses the dead bolt throw. Consider using dead-bolts with a hacksaw-resistant rotating steel pin within the bolt, and a wrench-resistant, free-spinning brass cover over the outside cylinder.

Full mortise locks offer double-lock protection, including dead-bolt security. If this is the route you’d like to take, contact a professional locksmith. Another system to consider is the Rim Mount, sometimes referred to as a vertical dead-bolt. The Rim Mount is placed onto the interior side of the door, easy to install and serves as a good second lock.

Secure double-hung windows by drilling a small hole at a 45-degree angle between the inner and outer frame and insert a metal pin that is removable. A lag screw system will also secure double hung windows. Install this by drilling a hole in the upper corner of the lower window frame and align it with holes in the top sash. Drill holes for a closed position, and for a partially open position. When the screw is in, the window won’t budge.

Alternatively, a scrap of lumber can secure a double hung window by being screwed in vertically along the upper sash to block the bottom window from being opened. Keyed locks can be situated straddling the top of the bottom window to hold both windows in place. The keyed locks are good at deterring anyone from unhooking the latches, even if the window is broken. Do not rely on crescent, or butterfly, latches to secure double hung windows as these type locks can be easily pried open.

Laminated-glass windows prevent burglars from cutting glass to gain entry and this security glass works well on front-door windows and sidelights. Cover basement windows with grilles or grates to deter would be intruders. Outdoor grates can be secured with padlocks.

Sliding glass doors can be a simple entry for intruders unless they are properly secured. Install commercially available locks or place a wooden dowel in the inside track to jam the door. To deter against the door being lifted off the track, drill a hole through the slide door frame and the fixed frame, and insert a removable pin in the hole.

Secure the garage and do not leave any vehicles parked outside that may allow access to an electronic door. Never leave spare keys hidden around the outside parameters of the house, instead leave back up keys with a trusted friend or neighbor.

Alarms can be appropriate if you live in an isolated area, or an area with a history of break-ins. Research several companies to determine the level of security that will fit your needs. Only do business with an established company, and check references before signing a contract.

On the Inside

Inside of the house, use digital lamp timers that offer a random pattern and multiple program settings to vary each day. Set the lights to run from room to room. Attach a timer to the television and radio to give the impression that someone is home. Turn the telephone and answering machine down to the lowest volume and never leave an announcement on the machine advising that you are away.

Have your home insured to cover the loss of belongings. Mark all valuables with your initials and state abbreviation. Make a list of your valuables, attach accompanying pictures and store the list with your vital documents in a safe deposit box. Contact the local police department and request that they include your home on their regular patrol.

Keep a car parked in the driveway, or ask a neighbor to use the driveway while you are away. Leave window shades partly open. If a neighbor is going to be keeping an eye on your place, you should consider purchasing a baby monitor. You can leave one of the monitors in a central location of your home, and the other monitor with your neighbor. Do not allow newspapers or mail to pile up during your absence as this is a sure sign that you are away.

Replace all the home’s smoke alarm batteries before you depart. During your absence turn down the setting on the hot water heater and unplug appliances such as the microwave, coffee pot and toaster. Inspect and repair any malfunctioning electrical or natural gas outlets to avoid fire hazards in your absence. Also remember to discard food that will spoil. Arrange to have your garbage picked up, and the can stored away when empty.

Plant Care

With all the preoccupation over security, you shouldn’t forget lesser concerns such as ensuring the survival of your plants while you are away. For indoor plants, cutting back on their light supply will slow growth and less watering will be necessary. Water the plants before leaving and place them out of direct sunlight; you can cover them with clear plastic to hold in moisture. If you utilize clay pots, place the pots on unglazed bricks in the bathtub or laundry sink with a few inches of water. This will allow the clay pots to absorb the moisture through the bricks. However, keep in mind that these plants will still require some light.

To protect outdoor plants, install underground sprinklers that run on a daily timer. Situate potted plants to enable water from the sprinklers to reach the pots, while remaining out of direct sunlight. Remove the seeds and bloomed flowers on outdoor plants before you leave and you may want to employ a service to cut the lawn. Spray against insects prior to leaving during the summer months. Cover, or store away, all outdoor furniture and toys to protect against inclement weather.

Vegetables will require close inspection for pest presence, and if insects are discovered, the plants should be treated before you leave. Remove all ripe or nearly ripe fruit to prevent rot while you are away. Weed the garden completely and mulch the ground to ward off weed problems and quick evaporation of the soil.

If you are traveling during the winter months, disengage the sprinkler system to prevent freezing pipes and leave a faucet dripping inside of the home. Arrange to have walkways shoveled of snow if your area receives this type of winter weather.

You may be taking along a cat or dog, but if you have a fish aquarium this will require some special attention. Avoid adding new fish prior to your departure in the event one of the new additions carries an unknown disease. Confirm that the existing fish are healthy to avoid having a dead fish pollute the entire aquarium. Test the water for pH, ammonia and nitrate at least two days before leaving to give you time to correct any discrepancies. Confirm that the pumps, filters and heaters are all in good working order. If someone is going to feed your fish, measure out the food portions in small paper cups to prevent over-feeding. Keep in mind that most adult fish can survive a couple of weeks with acceptable water in tanks that are not 100% sterile. Java moss is full of protein for fish to eat. Check with your aquarium supplier to find out if this moss would be appropriate to your type fish.

Don’t lock the barn after the horses have escaped. Take the time now to protect your property while you are away. Odds are that nothing sinister will happen, but if trouble comes knocking, you can make sure it won’t get in.