December 15th, 2021
22 New Year’s resolutions for real estate agents in 2022
Property Management
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Did you know that most burglaries happen during the holiday period?
According to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Christmas Eve is the peak time for property offences such as burglaries and break-ins, with most offences occurring between 9 am and 6 pm.
So if you’re planning on going away during the holiday period, make sure your home is protected. Here are five holiday security tips for landlords and tenants to help you out:
1. Put a hold on your mail
Nothing tells a burglar that you’re absent like a stack of parcels on your doorstep or an overflowing mailbox. To reduce the chance of package theft or burglary, be sure to suspend any regular deliveries such as newspapers and magazines and put a hold on your mail or divert your mail to a trusted friend or family member for the duration of your holiday.
2. Conceal your valuables
Before you go away, make sure you conceal your valuables as the majority of burglaries aren’t pre-planned. Opportunist thieves may be tempted by valuable items such as jewellery, cash, gifts and electronics, so make sure they’re kept out of sight.
Additionally, be careful how you dispose of gift and appliance packaging. If a burglar sees an empty 72” Samsung TV box outside your home, it’s likely that they will assume that there’s a new television in your living room.
3. Clean up the yard
Another holiday security tip for landlords and tenants is to clean up your yard. Remove any items such as ladders and crowbars that a burglar can use to break in. These should all be stored securely in the garage.
In addition to that, overgrown hedges and trees create perfect hiding spots for burglars so be sure to trim those down. Plus, a tidy yard will give your home a lived-in look which indicates to burglars that the property is occupied.
4. Light it up
There’s nothing burglars hate more than being caught in the act. That’s why well-lit areas and motion-activated lights around the exterior of your home are such great burglar deterrents. As for the interior of your home, it’s a good idea to set timers on internal lights to create the illusion that someone is home.
5. Keep your travels off social media
Just a few months ago, ABC News reported that a string of Los Angeles-based celebrities such as Rihanna and Nicki Minaj had had their homes broken into. They had been selected by burglars based on “social media postings, touring or travel schedules of the owners”.
So if you were thinking of checking into Facebook while sipping cocktails in Bali, think again. Posting pictures and updates while on holiday is akin to advertising to burglars that your home is empty and vulnerable. Remember, you can always post pictures and updates after you’ve returned from your holiday!
To sum it all up…
Here are five holiday security tips for landlords and tenants:
1. Put a hold on your mail
2. Conceal your valuables
3. Clean up the yard
4. Light it up
5. Keep your travels off social media
Hopefully you enjoyed this blog post on holiday security tips for landlords and tenants. Be sure to share these tips with friends and family to ensure everyone around you has a safe and happy holiday.
You might also be interested in 19 New Year’s Resolutions for Real Estate Agents in 2019, How this Property Manager Restored Her Work-Life Balance and The Shift Towards Customer Experience in Real Estate.
Did we miss a top holiday security tip for landlords and tenants? Please let us know in the comments below.
