Hi Everyone. Well, after 15 years the RV-Dreams Community Forum is coming to an end. Since it began in August 2005, we've had 58 Million page views, 124,000 posts, and we've spent about $15,000 to keep this valuable resource for RVers free and open. But since we are now off the road and have settled down for the next chapter of our lives, we are taking the Forum down effective June 30, 2021. It has been a tough decision, but it is now time.
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We put the cable on "vacation" --left the appliances plugged in--did not change water and garbage--let the mail come and had kids pick it up couple times a week when they "checked" on the house. No lights left on and we did not shut our water system down and drain pipes(some do) I got most of our mail online at that time and now I have ALL of it online. I did let one neighbor(that I trusted) know we were going and he said he would be glad to keep an eye open. He was not paid and we have done things for him also. Some will tell you that they shut it all down and that works for them but I seem to have more problems with doing those kind of things. We lived in the north and extreme cold temperatures for many days is the norm.
Depending on where you live, you can request a "vacation watch" from either the police dept, or the Sheriff. In our county, they are glad to do it, just a drive by and a frequent walk around. As far as the Post Office, you know it is a gov't, because if it is addressed to you, or to occupant, or to our friends at ____, and it hits your box, it is sacred. They will not discard anything. If you decide to unplug the frig, take an old pair of laides hose, put a pound of coffee in them and put in the freezer and frig after drying it out completely. You might consider a timer and light, on and off at various times. Again, some things depend on locality and neighbors.
We used to do the whole shutdown thing...turn off the gas (if gone for more than 2 weeks), lock all windows/sliding glass doors and place sticks. Put newspapers and mail on vacation. Unplug TVs...etc.
Now we have an alarm system with security cameras that will call us and we can go on the internet and look at what's going on. This is a system that I bought online and installed my self so it's not connected to any alarm company. It has smoke detectors, motion sensor and noise detectors so we will be contacted as an event is happening and we can listen to what is going on and speak to whomever may be in the house if we can't get to the internet to view the cameras. We can then decide to call the police.
So we make sure everything is locked up, turn down off the heater, leave a couple of lights on random timers plus a radio tuned to a talk station in one of the bedrooms. Turn on the alarm system. Let the neighbors know that no one should be in our yard and to call the police if they see anyone out of the ordinary.
The little bit of mail we still get (mostly junk) comes in through a slot in the wall and falls into a low basket on the floor.
Supposedly in Southern California many people had found that if they put stuff on hold like cable,mail, utilities, newspapers and other deliveries, tell the police or neighbors, the information is sold to thieves and they come home to breakins.
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"Small House, Big Yard "
"May the FOREST be with you" Alfa See-Ya 5'er and 2007 Kodiak C4500 Monroe
Could you share with us the brand and model of your camera setup. I've been looking for something like this but am confused by all of the different brands etc.
"Now we have an alarm system with security cameras that will call us and we can go on the internet and look at what's going on. This is a system that I bought online and installed my self so it's not connected to any alarm company. It has smoke detectors, motion sensor and noise detectors so we will be contacted as an event is happening and we can listen to what is going on and speak to whomever may be in the house if we can't get to the internet to view the cameras. We can then decide to call the police."
I am an Electronics Security Integrator. (Mostly in Prisions) I am however looking to branch into the commerical / home arena. I wanted something different than the standard alarm. I am currently becoming a dealer on this .
You can PM me if you have any questions.
John
-- Edited by jkrobbins on Friday 22nd of July 2011 06:06:32 PM
We 1/2 time. Home in BC in summer, winter in Mexico. First thing we did was sell the house & move into a +55 townhouse complex. No maintenance and lots of retired seniors at home a lot, to watch over the place. We have the neighbour collect our mail, once a month by my brother who works nearby comes in and scans it & emails the bills to me. I set up Truecrypt on my PC so I can remote access my computer on the road, safer to pay bills online that way. I bought a couple of dlink cameras (about $65). If they detect movement they email a few photos or I can remote monitor them on the net. I installed some led bulbs in some light fixtures that I just leave on, they cost pennies a month to run. The porch light comes on at dusk an shuts off at dawn. I shut off the water & water heater. I have electric heat and I keep the house about 55 degrees. I put all house plants in one room under a grow light on a timer. The neighbour waters them once a week for us. We always bring her neat stuff back from Mexico and I am always fixing stuff for her while at home so it is mutually beneficial. Some insurance companies insist there is someone in the house once a week or so, so be careful.
I put storage insurance on the car I leave at home. The fact it is in the carport makes the house look occupied. Oh & cancel papers and have a neighbor pick up flyers.
I forward my phone to my cell. I use AT&T GoPhone which works in the US and Mexico
-- Edited by telco on Thursday 20th of June 2013 11:01:36 PM
Hi, the most important thing is checking with your house insurance company. Here in Canada you MUST have someone check your house inside [not just a walk around] every 3 days or your insurance would be negated if something happened. I don't know what it is like south of the boarder but check to make sure......Deb
