Travelling for two months - Safety measures for home (cost, vacations, review)

[mike.main]

I'm thinking of travelling to Canada for June and July. What safety measures should I follow for my house here?

Here's what I'm thinking so far :
1) have a co-worker check on the house once a week.
2) have a timer switch to control the outside lights for nights.
3) Maybe install one of those 6 camera security systems they sell at Costco.

Anything else?

[mels]

If the camera is just filming but is not hooked up to a monitored alarm company, then what's the point? You come home to find things missing and you have to review 2 months of footage? I may be missing the point though, since I am unfamiliar with Costco camera systems.

I have traveled for longer periods of time (though never more than one month). I have timers on interior lights, motion flood lights outdoors, and a monitored alarm system. I don't have people check on the house but I always alert my neighbor and let them know when we'll be out of town and they do the same. That way I know they'll be more observant if they see something sketchy.

[mikeyyc]

Have the house checked, yard maintained, mail gathered/cancelled, turn off your main water. Turn off your hot water tanks. Turn off/up your a/c.

[annerk]

Turn off the gas main as well.

If you have a home phone, you might want to forward the calls to your cell.

Put a couple inside lights on a random timer, but have your bedroom light go on and off at the same time every morning and night.

Ask the neighbor to bring in any flyers/newspapers/etc. that might be left on your door or mailbox.

[irman]

You forgot:
- postpone newspaper delivery (if any)
- postpone Mail delivery
- have neighbours check, unless they do not like you ...

If you have a lawn (with grass), who will mow for two months ?

[mike.main]

Great advice everyone.

The Costco cameras are hooked up online so I can monitor my place with my iPhone. I have a pool so I can't turn off the water. I'll take the rest of your advice into consideration.

Thank you all

[Jezer]

See if you could get someone to park in your driveway from time to time.

Anything that makes it look as if people are coming and going is good.

[South Range Family]

Turn off the water supply to your washing machine. For some reason those rubber hoses like to burst when they are not being used.


Edit: Wait a minute. Does your pool fill itself? Do you have a pool company that needs water to service the pool? How would turning off the water affect the pool?

[Bakeneko]

I'd avoid mentioning to anyone that doesn't need to know that you'll be gone....

I'm kinda shocked at how many of the parents in my daughter's dance class love to brag/blab about their upcoming vacations.

[Chatteress]

Originally Posted by Bakeneko

I'd avoid mentioning to anyone that doesn't need to know that you'll be gone....

I'm kinda shocked at how many of the parents in my daughter's dance class love to brag/blab about their upcoming vacations.

I really agree with this .... Don't post it on Facebook, etc ...