How to ensure Birmingham-based property and vehicle are kept safe and secure before leaving on holidays

As your holidays quickly approach, there is no doubt you’ve got a lot on your mind. For those who live in the Birmingham area, there are so many amazing cities and destinations within flying distance out of Birmingham Airport, giving you a wide array of vacation options. While it’s understandable that your mind is probably on the planning, details, and itinerary, it’s important to also think about how you plan to keep your property and vehicle safe while you’re away. This is even more the case if you’re taking off for a long-stay holiday.

So, before you jet off on your much-awaited holiday, here are some steps you can take to ensure your home and vehicle are safe and secure while you’re gone.

Consider Park and Fly

When it comes to keeping your car safe while you’re on holiday, there is a really simple fix and that’s to book a park and fly spot in a secure facility. This is where BirminghamParking.com comes in real handy. It offers spaces in Birmingham Airport Car Park 5, 7, 3, 2, and 1.

Now where BirminghamParking.com differs is that you can drive straight to your designated terminal, and then a representative will meet you there and park your car for you in a secure car park. The Park and Ride programme is an extremely popular choice with travellers.

Let a Trusted Neighbour Know

If you have a neighbour that you are close with and trust, you can also ask them to keep an eye on your house/apartment while you’re gone. This doesn’t mean they need to go into your house, it just means that someone will have their eyes on your home and will hopefully notice if anything unusual happens.

Have Lights on Timers

The last thing you want to do is give the illusion you are away on holiday, so installing a few timers on your lights can be a wise decision. It will ensure that lights come on and turn off at a specified time of day each day you are gone, giving the illusion that someone is home.

Consider a Home Alarm and Monitoring System

For those taking off on a long-stay holiday, or who travel often, it may be worth the peace of mind to have a home alarm and monitoring system installed. Not only can these systems alert you about intruders, but they can also monitor such things as smoke, water, carbon monoxide, and more.

Have the Garden Looked After and Maintained

Again, this tip is meant more for those who plan on being away for at least a couple of weeks. Hiring a lawn maintenance service, if you have a garden to worry about, will again give the illusion that someone is there and looking after the property.

Post Your Photos on Social Media When You Get Home

Because you don't want to broadcast around to people that you won't be home, it's also a smart idea to wait until you get home to post holiday photos and videos on social media. You can obviously let your close friends and family know you're away, but there's no need to tell everyone. For those who have public accounts, you never know who might be reading your posts and viewing your photos and what sort of ideas that gives them.

Don't Keep Any Hidden Keys Out

Many people have a key hidden around the exterior of their home for those "just in case" moments. While there may not be anything wrong with that on a regular basis, if you are heading out on holiday, it's smart to place those extra keys inside your home. You can return them to their hiding spot when you get back home.

Have Someone Collect the Post

If you get mail, flyers, and newspapers delivered to your door, you’ll want to find someone that can collect them for you while you’re gone. Without them being collected, it can build up real fast, and this acts as a calling card for potential intruders.

If You're Still in Doubt - Hire a House Sitter

If you take a look at all these tips and steps and still don't feel that your house will be secure while you're gone, then it may be worth hiring a professional house sitter. This can be the ultimate way to get peace of mind as you know there will be an actual person in your home keeping an eye on things. They can collect the mail, turn lights on and off, water your plants, and just keep things in order.

While these tips and steps may seem simple and basic, the fact is that by following them all you will be doing all you can to ensure your property and car stay safe while you’re away.