Tips on securing your home for departure and extended absence.
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• Store staples such as sugar, flour or pasta in sealed containers
• Remove remaining food to discourage pests.Empty the refrigerator, turn it off and open the door.
• If you prefer to leave the refrigerator on, remove all items that can spoil andadd  some bottles of water to retain the cold and help the unit use less energy. You should always turn off the ice maker.
• Put 2-3 tbsp. of vegetable oil in the dishwasher to keep the seals moist. DO NOT LATCH THE DOOR.
• Put vegetable oil in the garbage disposal to keep it from locking up.
• Open the door of the clothes washer
• Unplug other appliances throughout the house

Telephones:

• Turn off the ringers on your phone or unplug them so thieves won't hear if no ones answering.
• Don't leave a recorded message saying you're out of town.  Simply say "you are away from the phone so leave a message and you'll get back to them."

Furniture:

• To add moisture to keep furniture from drying out and separating, place several 5 gallon buckets of water around the house.  You can purchase new, empty 5 gallon plastic paint pails from local paint stores.

Lighting:

• Use timers to rotate lighting throughout the house.

Water:

• Water valves like to be used so rather than turning off individual valves, turn off water at the main water valve before departing.  Burst frozen pipes are an ugly scene.

Bathrooms:

• Wrap toilet bowls with cling wrap to keep the water from evaporating
• Do not put bleach (tablets or liquid) in the tank.

Furnace/Air Conditioning:

• Change filters
• Set thermostat at a reasonable setting as anticipated during your absence.

Doors & Windows:

• Lock all doors and windows.
• Place wood dowels in the tracks of sliding doors.

Miscellaneous:

• If you have never done so, take photographs or videos of all your valuable possessions in the house.
• Before leaving, hide valuables from sight (in closets, under cabinets, etc)
• Store patio furniture and barbeque grill in the garage.
• Take down bird feeders and put them in the garage as well.   Empty bird feeders simply say "I'm not here."
• Unplug garage door opener and/or lock automatic garage doors.

We're here for your home, when you can't be. 
We're just a phone call away!

Take Charge
Vacation/Absentee Home Watch
Mountain Home, Arkansas
1-870-491-5172
mje2@centurytel.net