The best deterrent against theft is preventing entry into your home. (Courtesy of Cheryll Gillespie)

I love being at home but I also love to travel. Aside from the great adventure of the travel itself, one of the best parts of a fabulous trip is arriving home, that is provided your home is still in the same state that you left it in.

As you prepare to head to the cottage, the lake house, or out and about in the RV you need to ensure that  your home is secured. This weekend, plan to make certain that your home is secured in addition to making life a little easier for the neighbor who will be collecting the mail, or the friend who is watering the plants or feeding the cat. Start by installing a new keyless entry system, such as the powerbolt system from Weiser Lock.

With a keyless entry system, you can provide helpful friends with their own temporary entry code. A keyless system also eliminates the need for a ‘hidden' key (trust me thieves know all our hiding spots). 

Most burglaries are the result of forced entry or via doors that have been left unlocked. Make sure all exterior doors have deadbolts with at least a 1” throwbolt. Besides replacing an old brass door handle is a great way to bring an updated look and new appeal to your home.

Since we have the tools out, let’s make this a larger but very worthwhile weekend project. Check your house numbers and ensure that they are at least four inches in height and have a night reflective quality which will make finding your home a lot easier for friends and emergency vehicles.

One of the best deterrents against theft besides preventing entry into your home is light. No thief wants to be seen so replace or add additional exterior lighting with motion sensors. Light and camera systems are very affordable today and are an extremely worthwhile investment.

If you are traveling a lot you may want to upgrade the home security system. DIY kits are available from all our favourite do-it-centers and stores such as Costco. With some of the new systems you can even log onto your computer and get a bird's eye view of your property no matter where you are.

You have worked too hard on making your house a home so never under estimate or overlook the value of a top notch security system. As grandma use to say “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. So this summer, travel safe, shop for great home treasures and enjoy all the fun in the sun you and your family can handle.