Safeguarding and Presenting Your Home While on Vacation

Maximizing Sale Potential

As exciting as vacations can be, it’s crucial not to overlook the safety and presentation of your home while you’re away. Selling your home can be a stressful process, especially when you’re away on vacation. However, it’s crucial to prioritize the safety and presentation of your property even when you’re not around. Protecting your property from potential intruders and maintaining its curb appeal can help ensure peace of mind and even maximize its value. In this blog post, we will discuss effective ways of Safeguarding and Presenting Your Home While on Vacation to showcase it at its best while you’re away during the listing period.

In this blog post, we will discuss effective ways to protect your home and showcase it at its best while you’re away on vacation during the listing period.

Work with a Trusted Real Estate Agent

Choose a reliable and experienced real estate agent who understands your concerns about home security and presentation. Ensure that your agent is well-versed in managing properties while the owners are away. They can provide guidance, implement necessary precautions, and coordinate with other professionals to maintain your home’s safety and appeal.

As part of our comprehensive services, we offer pre-showing and post-showing visits to your home to ensure it looks its absolute best and remains secure. Prior to each day’s showings, our team will visit your home to ensure that all lights are turned on, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that showcases your property’s finest features. Additionally, after the final showing of the day, we will return to your home to ensure all lights are switched off and your property is securely locked. With our attentive care, you can rest assured that we will ensure the safeguarding and presenting of your home while you are on vacation.

Invest in a Security System

One of the best investments you can make to safeguard your home is a comprehensive security system. Consider installing surveillance cameras, motion detectors, and an alarm system to deter potential intruders. Nowadays, many advanced security systems offer remote access, allowing you to monitor your home from anywhere in the world using your smartphone or laptop.

There are also many DIY home security cameras that offer remote viewing capabilities on your smartphone or tablet providing added peace of mind while you’re away. Numerous options are available in the market, ranging from wireless indoor cameras to weatherproof outdoor cameras. These cameras are easy to install and connect to your home Wi-Fi network, allowing you to view live video feeds and receive notifications of any activity detected at your home. With just a few taps on your smartphone or tablet, you can keep an eye on your property from anywhere, enhancing the security of your home even when you’re not physically present.

There are also many DIY home security cameras that offer remote viewing capabilities

Notify Trusted Neighbours or Friends

Informing trustworthy neighbours or friends about your absence is an excellent way to keep an extra pair of eyes on your property. They can help monitor any suspicious activities, collect mail or packages, and they can ensure that everything is in order and report any issues or concerns to your real estate agent. This person can also help maintain the curb appeal of your property by keeping the exterior tidy, mowing the lawn, and watering plants.

 

Arrange for Regular Maintenance

Consider scheduling regular maintenance services while you’re away. Arrange for lawn care, snow removal (if applicable), and house cleaning services to give your home a well-kept appearance. An unkempt exterior can signal vacancy to potential burglars, while a well-maintained home demonstrates your commitment to upkeep and can leave a lasting impression on potential buyers.

 

Use Timers for Lighting

Keep your home well-lit to discourage burglars. Invest in light timers or smart lighting systems that can automatically turn on and off at specific times. Program your lights to mimic your usual routines, such as turning on in the evening and turning off in the morning. Smart timers, accessible through your smartphone or tablet, offer the convenience of remotely controlling your lights and devices to create the illusion of an occupied home, allowing you to turn them on and off at desired intervals as if you were there.

Pause Deliveries and Mail

A pile of uncollected mail or packages is an obvious indication that nobody is home. Temporarily suspend regular mail delivery and any subscriptions you receive. Alternatively, you can ask a neighbour or friend to collect your mail regularly. This way, your home won’t appear vacant, reducing the chances of break-ins.

Canada Post has a Hold Mail service that temporarily stops mail delivery at your address when you’re not there to receive it. Your mail is safely stored at a Canada Post facility until your return.

Temporarily suspend regular mail delivery and any subscriptions you receive.

Keep Social Media Posts Limited

While we all want to share vacation updates on social media, it is advisable to avoid oversharing details about your absence. Publicly posting about your vacation plans and the duration of your absence can unknowingly attract unwanted attention. Restrict your posts to a select group of trusted friends or wait until you return to share your vacation memories.

Publicly posting about your vacation plans and the duration of your absence can unknowingly attract unwanted attention.

Secure Doors and Windows

Before leaving for your vacation, double-check that all doors and windows are securely locked. Install deadbolts on exterior doors for added security. Reinforce glass sliding doors with a metal bar or install a security film to make them more resistant to break-ins. Secure basement windows and any other vulnerable access points to prevent unauthorized entry.

Limit Personal Items and Valuables

Before you leave for vacation, remove or secure valuable and personal items. Store important documents, jewelry, and valuable electronics in a safe or lockbox.

Clearing your home of excessive personal items is essential when preparing it for showings, as it creates a blank canvas that enables potential buyers to envision themselves living in the space. By removing personal items such as family photos, unique memorabilia, and personalized decor, you create a neutral environment that appeals to a wider range of buyers. Additionally, reducing the presence of valuable personal items minimizes the risk of theft or accidental damage during showings, providing both peace of mind and a more secure atmosphere for potential buyers to explore your home.

Store important documents, jewelry, and valuable electronics in a safe or lockbox.

Stage Your Home Professionally

Consider hiring a professional home stager to showcase your property’s best features while you’re on vacation. Staging a home plays a crucial role in the successful sale of a property. It involves strategically arranging furniture, decor, and accessories to showcase the home’s best features and create an inviting atmosphere for potential buyers. A well-staged home allows buyers to visualize the full potential of the space and helps them connect emotionally with the property. It highlights the property’s unique selling points, maximizes its appeal, and increases its perceived value. Staging also helps create a sense of scale, improves flow, and emphasizes functionality, making the home more marketable. With the help of a staging expert, your home will continue to make a positive impression on prospective buyers, even in your absence.

A well-staged home allows buyers to visualize the full potential of the space and helps them connect emotionally with the property.

Inform Your Real Estate Agent

Keep your real estate agent well-informed about your vacation plans and duration. Share your contact information and emergency contact details with them. This ensures that they can reach you promptly if necessary and that they can stay informed about the status of your property during your absence. If you have a neighbour helping to look after your property, share their contact information as well.  For minor issues this could eliminate the need to interrupt your vacation unnecessarily.