Home And Away

Sun Herald

Sunday January 6, 2008

Jodie Thomson

Secure your property, pets and plants before you go on holidays, writes JODIE THOMSON.

In the mad rush to get away on holidays, too often we're out the door without having stopped to think about the house, garden and possibly pets we're leaving behind. No surprise then that crime statistics spike sharply during this time of year, when households take off for weeks on end. It's also often a tough time for gardens left to deal with the searing summer heat.

Taking a few simple precautions before you go should avoid an unhappy homecoming.

Crime-proof your home

Before you go on holidays, it's essential you do all you can to deter thieves by making it look like you're still home, and by making it extremely difficult for thieves to get in or out.

First, don't give thieves a reason to be interested in your house. If you've been shopping up a storm in the sales, for example, don't leave the packaging lying around, advises NRMA Insurance home portfolio manager Michael Rabbitt.

"Don't put the packaging in the driveway for the garbo advertising you've got a new plasma TV," he says.

Another area people get complacent about is outdoors.

"Garden sheds are full of things like edge trimmers, mowers, bikes; items that are easily disposed of and quite attractive to thieves," Rabbitt says. "Put a padlock on the shed and think about what gear you're going to leave around."

There are some simple things to do to make sure your house looks lived in.

"Put timer switches on lights; they're not expensive," Rabbitt says. "Get your mail diverted or get someone to collect it. Junk mail is a real giveaway you're not home, so get a neighbour to help you out."

Also, don't be tempted to change your phone's answering machine message to announce to callers you're away. "Leave it as normal, or get your phone diverted to your mobile," Rabbitt says.

Now's the time to consider whether your home's security is appropriate for the area you live in, and the type of belongings you have at home.

"In most areas, we're comfortable with normal locks on doors and windows, but in certain areas where burglary rates are higher we would recommend key-operated window locks and double-key deadlocks," Rabbitt says. "Even if they get in, it's then hard for them to get out with all the gear."

And make sure you don't leave house keys inside, or even car keys if your car is parked outside.

"Don't give them an easy getaway."

In high-risk burglary areas, or if your home contains particular valuables, an alarm or security system of some sort might be wise.

"One thing we know is that alarms are effective," Rabbitt says.

Keep it safe and sound

Along with the burglars, there are other things that can go wrong when your house is left empty.

For example, electrical faults or devices left on could trigger a fire that could destroy some or all of the house. To avoid the risk of fire, the NSW Fire Brigades recommends switching off and disconnecting non-essential electrical appliances and IT equipment while away.

For electrical items that are left on, such as lights on timer switches, carefully check they're in good working order. It's also wise to close all internal doors before you leave, which will help reduce the spread of fire if there is one in the house.

Don't forget your pets

If you're going away for more than just a few days, the best option for leaving dogs and cats is professional kennels or catteries.

Some vets also offer boarding services for various animals.

"They should have really good expertise and competent staff and supervision, so your pets can be secure," says Susie Chaseling, spokesperson for the Petcare Information and Advisory Service.

"Before you book, try and visit the place and see for yourself that it's clean, doesn't smell, that the facilities look safe and secure. For dogs, you want to make sure they'll get exercise, whether in a run or if they walk them."

Leaving pets at home with a friend or neighbour to feed and possibly walk them is an option for shorter vacations, but isn't ideal.

"It can be nice as the pet stays in a familiar environment, but suddenly nobody's around and that can be stressful itself," Chaseling says. "Dogs can get bored if left alone and barking can be a problem. That type of minding is probably only appropriate for weekends and short trips. Cats can self feed and look after themselves for a weekend."

Wherever you leave your pet, make sure they have a collar or tag with your contact details on it, so you can be reached if they get lost.

Garden survival guide

If you're wondering how your garden will survive on its own for a week or more while you're away for a summer break, don't fret too much. The good news is tighter water restrictions across NSW in recent years have actually trained many typical garden plants to cope better without water.

"The plants were quite spoiled before," says Ellinor Robertson, horticulturist with Eden Gardens and Garden Centre. "But now they don't get water as frequently and easily, a lot of plants developed deeper root systems and can last better without water."

Most gardens will last well enough for a week without water, but if you're away any longer you might need to do some extra preparation.

For large gardens, or those with delicate plants, it may be worth investing in a dripper system with an automatic timer that you can set for the times allowed by water restrictions. "You can also get rain sensors and put them next to the watering systems, so they sense if it's raining and turn the timers off," Robertson says. "That gets a little more complicated, but if you've got a big garden that would be a good investment."

For most gardens, the best thing you can do is a little preparation.

"Just water thoroughly before you go and apply a nice, thick mulch to keep them happy," Robertson says.

"Surface-rooting plants like azaleas, magnolias, gardenias are quite thirsty plants, so it would be good to treat them with a liquid surfactant product that helps the water get deeper into the soil."

A big no-no is giving your plants a feed of fertiliser before you go.

"This would send them into a growth phase and young growth is more susceptible to scorching from the sun," she says.

Outdoor pots can suffer more, as they dry out quickly when it's windy or sunny and they don't benefit much from rain, as the drops tend to run off the foliage and onto the ground.

"Give them a thorough soaking, then mulch on top with something like sugar cane mulch," Robertson says. "And move them to a shady, less exposed spot if you can."

Your indoor plants should last happily indoors for at least a week. If you're away for longer, sit them in your bathtub before you go.

"Put the pots on top of an absorbent substance, like cotton wool, moistened down with water, but be careful not to crowd them in."

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Whenever you head off on holidays, check you've done these essentials to keep your home safe:

? Lock all doors and windows, and don't forget to lock your shed and garage.

? Don't leave a key hidden around the house. Leave a spare key with a neighbour or friend.

? Cancel your newspapers and arrange for someone to collect your mail regularly. For longer trips, arrange for Australia Post to hold your mail.

? Tell neighbours you're going away and leave a contact phone number.

? Make your home look lived in while you're away. Use timer switches on lights and open a few blinds.

? Engrave your driver's licence number and state you live in on the back of all electronic valuables.

? Don't forget your outdoor stuff: make sure valuables like lawnmowers, sports gear, power tools and good garden equipment are locked away.

© 2008 Sun Herald

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