Choosing the Right Lights for When You're Away on Holiday: A Guide
Vacation Preparation: Securing Your Home Exterior
As the sunny season approaches and you start daydreaming about your upcoming vacations, it's essential to prepare your sanctuary for your absence. We've tapped Dale Watson, the seasoned Chief of Police from Mount Airy, North Carolina – yes, the very town that birthed the famous Andy Griffith – for his insider tips on keeping your home safe and secure.
Outdoor Illumination
A strategic lighting setup can help deter potential intrusions, starting with your home's exterior. Watson wisely points out, "Shady businesses prefer the dark." So let's fight back against critters and burglars! Prune shrubs and hedges surrounding your windows for clear visibility, and make ample use of outdoor lighting. Watson suggests a blend of both automatic and manual lighting, and he's not kidding. View these lighting fixtures as your first line of defense – offensive while manual, and backup when motion-activated.
The Quantity of Lights
There's no magic number when it comes to leaving lights on during your trip. Simply aim to leave as much lighting on as your pocketbook allows. By maintaining the impression of an active, inhabited home, you'll deter any unwanted visitors. The advance of energy-efficient LED bulbs means that power consumption is friendlier to the environment.
Recommended Lighting Spots
To create a continuous sense of occupancy, focus on lighting areas so you can easily see one space to the next. Watson recommends starting with the foyer, followed by the kitchen and powder bath. With this setup, any suspicious individuals are unlikely to go unnoticed. Smart lighting systems, like Philips Hue, make maintaining your home's lighting effortless while you're away. Just remember to mix up the timing to prevent any potential burglars from recognizing a pattern.
Neighborhood Camaraderie
In Watson's opinion, building relationships with your neighbors is crucial for home security. By fostering a strong sense of community, you can rely on each other when it comes to watching out for one another's homes. So take some time to invest in your neighbors and make this summer break a secure one for all!
- For a more secure vacation, Southern Living suggests trying a strategic lighting setup as your home's first line of defense, with a blend of automatic and manual lighting to deter potential intrusions.
- When it comes to the quantity of lights left on during your trip, the goal is to maintain the illusion of an active, inhabited home, so leave as much lighting on as your budget allows.
- According to Dale Watson, focus on lighting central areas such as the foyer, kitchen, and powder bath to create a continuous sense of occupancy, making it difficult for any suspicious individuals to go unnoticed.
- Building relationships with your neighbors is vital for home security, as a strong neighborhood camaraderie can provide an extra layer of protection, ensuring a secure summer break for everyone.
