Here are some helpful hints to protect your home while you are away:

• Use timers on interior lights to go on at dusk and off at bedtime.
• Use timers or motion sensors on exterior lights.
• Don’t stop your mail or paper; your sitter will bring them inside.
• Don’t discuss your absence in public places.
• Mow your lawn before you leave in the summer months and arrange for a neighbor to shovel sidewalks in the winter.
• Put bicycles, outdoor toys and lawn furniture away as they can easily be stolen.
• Have the sitter alter the lighting pattern in your home.
• Move any valuable possessions away from windows. Keep a list or photo-history of all your possessions.
• Let police know you will be gone and ask them to periodically watch your home.
• Inform your neighbors that a pet sitter will be making stops at your home so that they will not be alarmed by a strange car in your driveway. Give the neighbors (who may be looking out for your property) the sitter’s name and number. They can inform him/her if they see anything suspicious.
• Please let the sitter know if anyone else will be dropping over to check on the pets or be in your house for any reason.
• Don’t hide your key outside for the sitter.
• ALWAYS, ALWAYS leave a number where you can be reached.