NOVA Homes Blog: Keeping Your Northern Virginia Home Safe While You're Away for the Holidays

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Keeping Your Northern Virginia Home Safe While You're Away for the Holidays

It's common for many Northern Virginia homeowners to head out of town for the holidays, from Christmas through New Year's. If you're packing up this week to visit your friends and family, be sure to take the extra precautions to keep your home safe.

Follow the tips below to ensure you're not met with a holiday disaster upon your return to your home in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, McLean or Mount Vernon.

Update the entryways to your Northern Virginia home. Burglars are more likely to target homes with older doors and dilapidated window frames. Take a step back to look at your home from a new perspective and fortify the entry points.

You may have already taken the time to put your lights on a timer, but going to extra mile to make your home look occupied is key to preventing theft. If you can, rely on your neighbors to pick up your mail and shovel if snow falls while you're away.

Know where all of your valuables are when you leave. If you'll be leaving valuable items in your house while you travel, take inventory before you go. You can even use household items like flour bags and cupboards to keep them out of sight.

Do not post your location on social media. It's important to keep your travels off of social media if your home will be unoccupied. The last thing you need is for someone to see you'll be out of town for a week and pay your NoVa home a visit.

Light up the rooms. As I mentioned above, timers can be helpful to make it look like someone is home. Burglars know lights are typically left on during the holidays, so changing lights are essential.

When you return to Northern Virginia, do not hesitate to contact me! My experience in local real estate can help you both buy a new home and sell your current property in the new year.

I happily serve the areas of Alexandria, Annandale, Arlington, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Clifton, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, Lake Ridge, McLean, Mount Vernon, Reston, Rosslyn, Springfield, Tyson’s Corner and Vienna.

Earle Whitmore

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
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When you first meet Earle, she greets you with a firm handshake and a broad smile. She has a certain charm and friendly nature that immediately set you at ease. As you talk to her, she listens intently. You can see by the earnest look on her face that she’s already developing ideas and strategies to accomplish your goals. By the end of your conversation, you’re surprised that someone can have such a clear understanding of your needs after just one meeting. This is the essence of Earle’s real estate service. She’s a straightforward businesswoman who doesn’t let up until her clients are satisfied.
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Northern Virginia is a thriving area consisting of several communities that thrive with historical and cultural richness as well as physical beauty.
With all that the Northern Virginia area offers, there’s never a shortage of things to do, natural beauty and great schools. From the ocean to the mountains to the nation’s capital, this is a part of the country that has it all!
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