November through December is the peak time for burglars.  It coincides in the time of the year where a lot of houses are left unattended because of people going to parties or holidays. To add,  a lot of expensive items are also bought and exchanged in gift-giving making it an ideal time for burglars to get some free gifts for themselves.

Don't be a victim of any break-ins.  Here are some simple tips to secure your home this holiday season and discourage potential intruders from targeting your home.

1. Don't tempt burglars. Make sure that the valuables inside your house are not seen from the street.
2. Don't give the burglars any ideas on what to steal from your house. Don't leave empty gift boxes on the curb, especially if is the box of your new TV, computer or any expensive item.
3. Request someone to pick-up the mail and newspapers for you.
4. Request your neighbor, friend or relative to maintain the home's occupied appearance while you're away.  Ask them to mow the lawn or shovel the snow and occasionally park their car into your driveway.
5. Secure all your entry doors including your garage door with deadbolts.  Make it harder for the burglar to get in and out of your house. You can also install patio bars or snuggly fit a piece of wood in the tracks between the back of the door and the wall to prevent your patio or sliding doors from being easily lifted out of their tracks.
6. Install motion detector spotlights to illuminate hiding places of potential intruders before they get near your house.
7. Create an illusion of activity inside your home by installing timer switches in lights and radio. If you have a two-storey home, install one timer activated light in the main living area and another one in the bedroom.
8. Trim trees, bushes and hedges to avoid any hiding spots for burglars.
9. Install smart security systems.  It is better if you can get one that can connect to your phone and contact a security company's central monitoring station or your mobile when the alarm goes off.

I hope you find these tips useful.  Let this coming holiday season be truly a merry season for you and your family.  Don't let any potential intruders ruin your holidays. Keep you home safe, secure and in tip-top shape whether you're planning to just stay at home or go somewhere else.

See you soon,

Sherry

Sherry Wilson & Co. RE/MAX Leaders | 1021 E. Main Street.  Purcellville, VA 20132

Ofc 540-338-6300 | Local 703-777-5153 | Free 800-303-0115 | Fax 540-338-4916
http://www.sherrywilson.com/  |  sherryw@sherrywilson.com