Memorial Day weekend has arrived! Please drive safely and arrive alive.

Spend a few extra minutes before you leave town to secure your home. Below you will find a few additional tips that may give your home a lived in look while you are away. Your vacation should be an opportunity to relax and enjoy some time off. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.

* ASK A NEIGHBOR TO CHECK ON YOUR HOUSE AND GET YOUR MAIL OR ARRANGE FOR HOUSE SITTER. BE SURE TO LEAVE A PHONE NUMBER WITH SOMEONE OF WHERE YOU CAN BE REACHED ON VACATION.

* HAVE SOMEONE MOW YOUR LAWN.

* STOP NEWSPAPER DELIVERY OR HAVE SOMEONE GET THE PAPER.

* NOTIFY THE POLICE IF YOU PLAN TO BE AWAY FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

* DO NOT HIDE A HOUSE KEY OUTSIDE — BURGLARS KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.

* CONSIDER INVESTING IN AN ALARM SYSTEM.

Source: Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of the summer vacation season. Spend a few extra minutes before you leave town to secure your home. Below you will find a few tips that may give your home a lived in look while you are away. Your vacation should be an opportunity to relax and enjoy some time off. I will post some more tips next week. Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend.

* USE TIMERS TO TURN LIGHTS AND A RADIO ON AND OFF AT APPROPRIATE TIMES, BOTH DAY AND NIGHT. TUNING INTO “TALK” RADIO STATIONS HELPS TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT SOMEONE IS AT HOME.

* LEAVE SHADES, BLINDS AND DRAPES IN THE SAME POSITION THAT YOU WOULD IF YOU WERE HOME.

* LOCK ALL DOORS AND WINDOWS, PAYING PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE BASEMENT, GARAGE, ATTIC AND SLIDING GLASS DOORS.

* TURN OFF THE WATER, GAS AND ANY ELECTRIC FOR APPLIANCES THAT WON’T BE NEEDED WHILE YOU ARE AWAY.

* MAKE SURE THE MESSAGE ON YOUR ANSWERING MACHINE DOES NOT INDICATE THAT YOU ARE ON VACATION.

Source: Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Companies