Quick answer:
- Make the home look lived-in with lights, mail, and a watchful neighbor.
- Lock and reinforce every entry, including the back and patio doors.
- Don’t hide a spare key. Use a keypad or leave one with someone you trust.
Make It Look Lived-In
An empty-looking home is the target; a lived-in one gets skipped (more on the mindset in how burglars choose targets). Before you go: put a couple of lights on timers, pause mail and package delivery (or have a neighbor collect them), arrange for the lawn to be tended on a long trip, and ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye out and park in your driveway occasionally.
Lock Down Every Entry
Walk every door and window and actually lock them, including the door from the garage and the sliding patio door. Make sure exterior doors have a working Grade 1 deadbolt with a reinforced strike. If any lock is sticky or a door doesn’t latch cleanly, fix it before you leave, not after.
Rethink the Spare Key
A hidden key under the mat or a rock is the first place anyone looks, and you don’t want it sitting there for two weeks. Better options: a keypad/smart lock so a house-sitter gets a temporary code (that you delete when you’re back), or leaving a physical spare with a trusted neighbor or family member. If you’ve lent out keys in the past and aren’t sure who has copies, a quick rekey before a long trip is cheap peace of mind.
A Smart Lock Earns Its Keep on Trips
If you travel often, a Wi-Fi smart lock lets you check the door is locked from the airport and grant access to a pet-sitter remotely. See are keypad locks safe? Want any of this handled before your trip? We do pre-vacation lock checks and upgrades as part of our residential locksmith service. Call (505) 818-0720.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the single best thing to do before a trip?
Make the home look occupied (lights on timers, mail handled, a watchful neighbor) and confirm every entry, including back and patio doors, actually locks with solid hardware.
Should I rekey before a long vacation?
If you’re unsure who has copies of your keys, yes. It’s inexpensive and ensures no old key works while you’re away. A keypad lock also lets you avoid handing out physical keys.
Can you upgrade my locks before I leave?
Yes. We can install deadbolts, secure sliding doors, set up a smart lock, or rekey, ideally a few days before you go so everything’s tested and ready.
Need a locksmith in Albuquerque? Call Just In Time Locksmith at (505) 818-0720 for fast, local, upfront-priced service, or request service online. 24/7 across the metro.