These days, leaving a house empty after you have moved out can be risky. If it is obvious that the house is vacant, potential thieves could zero in on the property and begin to clear out the remaining fixtures and even the copper piping in the home. Here, you will learn a few ways to protect your vacant home while it is on the market.

Enlist the Help of Neighbors

The neighbors are probably your best line of defense. Talk with your neighbors about keeping an eye on your home while it is waiting to be sold. This way, if the neighbors do happen to see someone poking around the property or moving around inside, they will know that the person is an intruder and they can call the police immediately.

Let the local law enforcement know that the residence is vacant. They will know that there is to be no activity on the property and can monitor it during their regular surveillance.

Keep Up with Lawn Care

Do not allow the grass to grow high. Not only will an unkept yard make it more difficult to sell the home, but it will also be a flag to potential thieves that there has not been anyone at the property in quite a while. Hire a neighbor kid or landscaping crew to care for the lawn until the property sales.

Use Timed Lighting

Leave a few lamps behind and set timers for them to turn on at dusk and off at dawn. This can make the house less of a temptation to thieves. Not only will it make it less appealing to the thieves, but it will make it easier for your neighbors to keep an eye on things. They will more easily be able to see what is going on in the house and see movement inside.

Fill the Driveway

If you have a neighbor very nearby, you could ask him or her to park a car in your driveway. The more it looks like someone is at the house regularly, the less of a target the home will be.

If you are concerned about the security of your vacant home while it is on the market, talk with your realtor (at Thousand Islands Realty or another company). He or she will be able to give you further advice on how to avoid vacant home burglaries. Taking preventative measures is a much easier course of action than trying to repair the damage that these intruders can do to a home.