We all have dreams about perfect vacation and try to put some money on a side to make that dream a reality. Whether it is a trip to a famous Australian vineyard (Riverina, Barossa or Yarra Valley or on a safari in Africa, it must be memorable.

But finding the perfect travel spot and organizing the whole trip to the tiniest details is not your biggest headache. Leaving your home unprotected is what you should worry about the most. You do not want your dream vacation to easily turn into a nightmare if you get robbed of your belongings while having the time of your life. Therefore, take precautionary matters to ensure your home is safe while you’re away. Here are some basic preventative measures to help you out.

1. Ask a friend to help

Ask a friend or a neighbor to keep an eye on your home while you are away. Ask him/her to drive by your home once every day and check on the place. Also give this person a key so he/she can bring your mail in. Don’t forget to bring this person a nice souvenir from your trip!

2. Don’t advertize your vacation on the web

Nowadays everyone chats about their business on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, and that information is visible to internet users other than your family and friends. Hence announcing to a crowd that you will be leaving your home unattended for two weeks or more is not a good idea since you may encourage strangers to enter your home.

3. Do alert the police

Alert the police when leaving the town for longer than a week. It is possible they may go out of their way to drive by your house while on patrol.

4. Leave your curtains open

Keep your curtains just as you usually do. Closing them can hint that you are not around.

5. Do not leave the lights on

Do not leave your lights on at home during the entire vacation in an effort to pretend that there is someone in the house. A better option is to purchase a light switch timer that can turn your lights on and off automatically according to a programmed schedule.

6. Stop your mail

You can temporarily stop your mail and newspapers or have a friend or neighbor pick up your mail while your are away. Remember, piles of newspapers or mail steep in front of your door could signal to criminals that you are out of town.

7. And finally, remove your spare key

If you keep a spare key under the mat, above the door frame, into the mailbox or into the flower pot, remove it before you leave. If a criminal figures out your are away on a vacation, it is likely he will check for a spare key.

After you have done these simple steps, all you have to do is enjoy your vacation!!!