Getting ready for vacation can be a whirlwind of laundry, shopping, packing and getting the car ready for the road trip. In all this flurry of activity, it's easy to ignore preparing for your home's security for when you are away. However, taking just a few easy steps can help guarantee that your home will be just as you left it when you come back from your trip.

Steps to securing your home before you leave on vacation

1. Forget about that key under the mat. Leaving a key under the front door mat has become a cliche, but, surprisingly a lot of homeowners still leave an extra key outside of their property. If it's not under the mat, it's under a flower pot or rock by the door. This is the first place that would-be thieves are going to look. You might as well hang out a welcome sign when you're away.

2. Remember the windows. Windows are often the weakest link in your home's security defenses. Check that your windows are closed with locking hardware and pins so that they can't be easily forced open. Make sure to secure your basement windows, also. These are often the point of entry for burglars.

3. Put a deadbolt on the door between the garage and your house. It's not unusual for garage doors to be activated by frequencies and radio signals other than your own. If this happens, a thief could shut him or herself inside your garage and take all of the time in the world to get into your house. Prevent this by installing a deadbolt (key-activated) lock between the garage and your living space.

4. Consider a deadbolt for the front door also. Since most traditional locks can be picked given enough time, it's also a good idea to install a keyed deadbolt lock on your front door also. Make sure that it goes far enough into the side wall that a good kick won't knock out the entire lock setting. Make sure that the key is near enough for occupants of the house to be able to reach it easily in the event of an emergency, but not visible so that a thief can break a window and grab the key.

Getting your home ready for vacation doesn't have to be stressful. Simply secure your windows with locking hardware, install deadbolts in your garage and front doors (if you don't already have them) and make sure that you don't make it too easy for would-be thieves by leaving a key under the mat.

For more information, contact Irvine Lock & Key or a similar company.