Holiday time can mean lots of travel.  With lots of parties and family and friends to visit, chances are your home will be left quite a bit. To make the holiday travel schedule less stressful, here are some good rules to follow that will ensure your home is safe while you are out and about. And this means much more than simply locking those doors!

Appliances should be turned off and unplugged.
If a trip will be a long a one, turning off and unplugging them is a good idea and will take your mind off of how safe things are. If unplugging the fridge, make sure it is empty and clean. By unplugging these, the risk of electric fires is reduced and you can save money on the bill at the end of month. An extra precaution such as this can go a long way.

Leave the mail at the post office.
A shorter trip could call for simply having a friend or neighbor pick up the mail and newspaper while away. This can ensure any important pieces of mail are safely delivered and won't leave a signal that you are gone with a lot of mail and newspapers piling up. If a trip will be for a few weeks, it is best to have the post office hold the mail and call the newspaper and halt delivery. Mail and newspapers stacking up are a big clue for burgalars.

Give your home the lived in look.
There are several ways to make it look like your house isn't empty. Leaving on exterior lights or having them set up on a timer to come on at a certain time is a good idea. A house that is completely dark is a major sign that no one is there. Another good idea is to have a neighbor or friend to set the garbage and recycling out weekly to give the house the appearance of not being totally empty. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Don't put it out there on Facebook.
Lots of us love to post information about trips and vacations on social media. However, it is known that burglars use social media to "stalk" those traveling and can be an open invite to come and rob your home. It's best to keep off of social media and post after getting back. Don't state the obvious.

Housesitter time.
Probably the best idea overall is to hire someone to house sit. Not only can they look after your home, they can check on things like water, pipes and keeping pets company. With someone there, it doesn't present the scenario that the house is all alone. They can also safety collect mail and newspapers and keep you informed about weather and other things happening while you are gone.

With a few easy tricks – your home can remain safe and sound while you enjoy the holidays!