When you go away?

nobby24

How do you leave your house? Do you leave your curtains open or drawn, I'm never sure which is the best thing to do. Do you leave lights on?

Becles

I don't leave any lights on and the upstairs curtains are left open. We've got vertical blinds downstairs and I leave them tilted half open. The front garden is about 6m long, so it's difficult to see if anyone is in or not from the street footpath.

We live in a cul-de-sac and get a lot more foot traffic during the day than at night, and obviously no vehicle traffic apart from the neighbours. My thinking was I'd rather leave the house looking occupied by day when most people pass it, rather than at night when hardly anyone goes past.

Diane60

When our neighbours go away we occcaisionally park in their drive way durning the day. I also use their clothes line to dry my washing!!! Dustbins are also put out in the due day. We try to make it look as if people are at home.

Mrs_Thrify

nobby24 wrote: »

How do you leave your house? Do you leave your curtains open or drawn, I'm never sure which is the best thing to do. Do you leave lights on?

Hiya, I do a bit of both for curtains and leave the upstairs @closed most of the time and give big orders that plugs have to be all out, no point in wasting electric with things left on standby. I run the freezer down incase of electric strike - when away for 2wks. I give a trusted friend a key who will pop in every few days to make sure everything is in order and to water the plants. I bring this friend back loads of pressants, just little things.

This time is a little diffrent though as the house will be occupied.

shoppaholic_returns

Hi,curtains open,bins put out on right day by neighbours and we return the favour and I always put some side lights on timer switches,but I make sure these are on for a few weeks before we go away also so it doesnt look out of the ordinary!

tiff

My MIL always closes the curtains which I can never see the point of.

Blue264

Speaking from personal experience, I would strongly urge everyone to let the neighbours that they trust know that they are going away and, if suitable, ask them to nip into your home at least or twice whilst you are away. Failing that, let the police know.
I'm away quite often with work and my commute makes my time away from home quite considerable in the week too.
I also have an elderly neighbour who I haven't had contact with for a number of years because of his treatment towards another of my neighbours. Nothing hostile, I just kept out of his way and didn't let him know any of my business.
Then, after another last minute trip away for work, I returned home late at night and went to work as usual in the morning. To cut a long story short, my neighbour reported me missing to the police as my curtains had been closed for a few days and they smashed my front door in.
This has cost me three days off work and a considerable amount of money (my home insurance didn't pay out because it was a police action) and inconvenience and now, all my contact details are registered with the police so that they can call me directly incase he reports me missing again. :rolleyes:
I feel that this really shouldn't be necessary but as many more people live alone or don't speak to their neighbours on a daily basis, it appears to be the best course of action. I do realise that this is one of those cases where you don't believe it happens until it happens to you but my local police informed me that they are called to act in these circumstances about once a week.

Francophile

We live in the country and my elderly neighbour puts bin out on correct day and even comes and sits on a bench in my garden if the weather is good so that it looks like theres someone about the house. She lives about 50 yards or so but can hear if a car slows down near our house and is up the road like a shot. What would you do without good neighbours?

conradmum

We leave the curtains open, all the plugs pulled out, the house alarm on and keys with both neighbours (in case the alarm goes off in the middle of the night :eek:). If we're away for a while I'll also ask them to move the letters away from the front door because it's glass and any build up can be seen.

Nordictat2

Well, my in laws live in the house next to use so when we go on holiday...they keep an eye on the flat for us + watch our 3 cats and let them in and out (Thanksfully).
I leave the blinds open so when the cats are inside they can get light and see outside etc. I think by making everything look locked up is a bad idea and could give a burgler an idea if you know what I mean
I had a friend who would leave a plate with a cookie on the plate and a few cups in his living room and kitchen to make it look like someone was there eating haha...I guess we all have different ideas

spiro

Two othe things; post office offer a service were they hold your post at the sorting office incase no one can round and move it away from the door especially if its glass. Dont put you home addess on your luggage when travellling to your holiday, only put it on when you are returning.