General Security Checklists

This is a partial list of items that you should check prior to leaving for a short or extended absence for vacation or business travel. Whether it is a short vacation for even a few days or if you are going to be away all winter long, always make sure that a reliable person or company is looking after your home. Your insurance could be invalidated if you do not have someone routinely checking on your home! Please feel free to email us with additional items at Email: contact@GCCIhome.com We will be pleased to add your items to our list.

Here is our list of home security and safety items:

Have you arranged to have an agency do a professional home security survey?
Are all trees and shrubs pruned and well maintained to prevent anyone from hiding unseen behind them?
Do any trees, down pipes, lattice work provide easy access to upper floors?
If you have skylights can they be removed from the outside or easily broken?
Any ladders, tools kept outside to assist any potential intruder?
Are you guilty of keeping a hidden house key outside the house where it's sure to be found?
Is your home well lighted with particular attention to exterior doors for home security?
Can your main entrance be seen from the street?
Are exterior doors at least 1-3/4 inch thick and made from solid wood or reinforced with metal?
Do all exterior doors have heavy duty dead bolts and reinforced door jams?
Can anyone gain easy access through a mail slot, dryer vent, or pet entrance?
If doors have glass panels can someone break through and defeat the locking mechanism?

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More items to consider to protect your family and increase your home's security while away on a short or extended absence:

Have all sliding glass doors been protected from being easily lifted out from their frames?
Are all exterior lights and security devices in good working order and protected from breakage?
Does the door from the attached garage leading to the house have a dead bolt?
Does your overhead door have a working electronic door opener?
Does your overhead door have any loose, broken or missing door panels or hardware?
Do you keep the overhead doors closed, and your car locked inside the garage?
Do all windows have reinforced locking devices that can be secured in the open position?
Do all screens and storm windows have reinforced locks?
Do ground level windows have guards or grates?
Are basement windows glass block or protected by grates or security devices?
All irreplaceable items kept in high quality fire resistant safe or in off-site safety deposit box?
Do you have a complete and current video tape or pictures of all your valuables off-site?
Are all firearms kept secured and apart from ammunition?

Checklist for Unoccupied Homes

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