| Veterans
News Flash 
Protect
Your Home While You Travel, Says Florida Association
of Realtors(R)
Thursday March 8, 10:35 am ET
ORLANDO,
Fla., March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Is spring fever
prompting you to head for the beaches or some
other vacation getaway? If you're planning to
travel during the spring holidays this year,
you can help protect your home while you're away
by following these tips from the Florida Association
of Realtors®.
-- Make it look like you're home. Install timers
on interior lights so they turn on and off periodically.
Many timers cost less than $25. Some more costly
products are capable of varying the time that your
lights turn on. Also consider leaving your radio
on and tuned to an all-news or talk show station.
-- Disconnect and remove all exterior electrical
decorations before you leave to reduce the chance
of fire and theft. Install exterior lights that
are controlled by motion sensors to make your home
a more difficult target for prowlers.
-- Discontinue your newspaper delivery temporarily.
Be sure to give several days notice so your order
can be processed in time.
-- Ask someone to collect any free papers or sales
materials left near your house. When fliers and
papers are left on a driveway day after day, it's
a sure sign that no one is home.
-- Have the post office hold your mail. This can
be initiated by calling the U.S. Postal Service
at 1-800-275-8777 and listening to the option for
putting a vacation hold on your mail. You can make
arrangements up to 30 days in advance of your vacation;
at minimum, two days will be needed to process
your request. Or you can go to the Postal Service
Web site at https://dunsapp.usps.gov/HoldMail.jsp and follow the instructions.
-- Ask a friend or neighbor to park a car in your
driveway occasionally and keep an eye on your place.
If your neighborhood is patrolled by police, give
the police your schedule so they'll watch for suspicious
activity; if there's a crime-watch program, notify
the person in charge of your travel plans.
-- If you have an alarm that is monitored, tell
the alarm company you will be away. If possible,
provide a phone number where you can be reached.
-- If you're going to be away for two weeks or
more, have a friend or lawn service mow the lawn.
Before traveling for spring break, take these
simple steps to help protect your property.
The Florida Association of Realtors, the voice
for real estate in Florida, provides programs,
services, continuing education, research and legislative
representation to its 170,000 members in 68 local
boards/associations.
SOURCE:
Yahoo Press Service
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