- Cancel newspaper deliveries
- Let your neighbors know you will be away. Leave a set of keys with someone, so in case of emergency they can get in. (For example if your alarm keeps going off falsely, someone should be able to get it to turn it off and get it repaired)
- Let your security company know you will be away.
- Buy a timer plug or 2. Connect some lamps to the time switches and set it up so that the lamps go an and off at the usual times. Also connect your radio or hi fi to it, so that it appears that there is some noise and activity in the house.
- Turn off the geyser.
- Turn off as many electrical items as possible. This reduces power wasteage, and reduces the chances that some item that has a fault you don't know about yet causing a fire. Turn off all plugs and items that you know sometimes trip the power.
- Unplug things that are sensitive to lightening strikes, and power failures ? e.g. computer equipment
- Organize for post to be collected by the neighbors and for dogs to be fed, plants to be watered etc by a trustworthy person.
- A house-sitter should observe the usual routines and be aware of safety procedures
- Never leave keys under a mat or in a pot plant for friends to come and check on the house or to water pot plants, as this is an open invitation to burglars
- Lock the tool shed, as burglars can use these tools to force open doors and bend open burglar bars.
- Put away any tools that can be used to force open doors or burglar bars, e.g. Axes, crowbars, spades, picks etc
- Check that your alarm is working and test that the signal goes through to the armed response company
- Do not advertise your absence by leaving messages on the answering machine to that effect, or leaving notes on the door
- If you have a prepaid meter, make sure there is enough electricity loaded for the time you are away.
- Make sure everything is locked
