Keeping Your Home Safe!*

*This is a collaborative post*

Holiday season is upon us! And whether you're jetting off to sunnier climes (and let's face it, who can blame you?!) or staying local, it's so important to keep your home safe whilst you're away! So here are my top tips!

1. Lock all your windows and doors. I mean, this is pretty obvious, right? But you'd be surprised how easy it is to forget! This is your first defence in keeping your home safe, guys, so do a quick sweep of the house before you leave to make sure everything's locked up tight.

2. Consider a light switch timer. Or install smart lighting (like Philips Hue!) A well-lit house is an excellent deterrent, as it gives the impression there's still somebody home. If you can, have lights in different rooms turn on at varying times throughout the evening, and night. This makes it appear as though there is somebody moving around the house!

3. Keep blinds and curtains closed. Another slightly obvious one, I know, but keep your valuables out of sight of any peeping toms by closing all the blinds and curtains. What they don't see, they can't want. Well, that's my logic anyway!

4. Ask someone to check on the house for you. If you're going to be away for longer than a few days, and you're lucky enough to have good neighbours (or friends), give them a spare key and ask them to pop in now and then and make sure everything's still locked up and secure.

5. Make you sure have home insurance. I can't stress this enough, and before I was a homeowner I was pretty ignorant to how important this is, but you need home insurance. Look, chances are you'll never need it and I know, I know, you don't want to pay out for something you might never need. But if the worst happens, it pays to be prepared!

Okay, lecture over. Now go have fun in the sun, you lovely lot!