We aren’t going to share the latest airfare deals or hotel discounts, we figure you already know how to get a great deal.  After all, if you found this page you are either living in one of our luxury Philadelphia apartments or thinking about renting one of our apartments in Philadelphia, so you know a good deal when you see one. 

But since it’s summer, and it’s hot, and it’s humid, we are still thinking about our summer vacation.  But before you hit the road, take a few easy steps so your apartment isn’t attracting thieves or susceptible to fire and other disasters. Not only is having your apartment vandalized or burnt to the ground a highly unpleasant way to return from a trip, but it also puts your neighbors at risk, as these problems have the potential to spread quickly.  We do everything we can to keep our residents safe, with security cameras, lighting and at many of our properties a watchful front desk.  So, before you take off, consider implementing these safety tips to keep your apartment and our community secure.

Call on friends for help. If you’re going to be away a week or more, ask a trusted friend to check on your apartment every few days—or better yet, housesit—while you’re gone. Not only will they make sure nothing happens to your home, but you might also ask them to bring in your mail and newspapers, water plants or even feed Rex. Of course, it’s a good idea to let your neighbors know a friend is monitoring your property so they don’t call the police to thwart a perceived “break-in.”

Set your lights on a timer. Leaving your apartment unlit for days on end is a sure sign to burglars that it’s empty, but so is keeping the lights on 24-7. A good way to handle the lights on/off conundrum is to set them on a timer that’s scheduled to simulate your regular routine. Of course, if the lights seem a bit too simulated, that can be another telltale sign, so it’s a good idea to set the timers in individual rooms on staggered schedules to make the light coming from your home seem more natural.

Stop your mail and newspaper. Nothing screams “nobody’s home!” like a pile of newspapers or an overflowing mailbox. So, if you can’t get a friend or neighbor to collect them for you, it’s best to have your mail and paper stopped if you’re going to be out of town for an extended period of time.

Don’t leave the spare house key lying around. Whether you keep a spare under your welcome mat, above the door frame or elsewhere, chances are it will take someone intent on breaking and entering five minutes flat to find it and gain easy entry to your apartment. So take it with you, let a friend hold onto it or put it in a safe place inside your house, even if you’re worried about losing your other keys. Because when it comes down to it, calling a locksmith is easier than calling the police. 

Make a last-minute checklist. Are the doors locked? Stove and oven turned off? How about all the faucets? Are the electronics unplugged and valuables secured? Take five minutes before you leave to ensure your house is vacation-ready. Another run-through of the house may seem unnecessary if you did it earlier in the day, but knowing you’ve left your house as safe as possible will help you kick back and have a great vacation.