Prep your home for a worry-free vacation

So you're going out of town, and you've already booked your tickets on board a swanky cruise ship bound for a tropical utopia. You've invested in new swimming suits for the whole family and your winter-bleached skin is ready to become sleek and bronzed once more. You're all set - or are you? Have you considered the safety of your home in your absence?

Become six steps closer to a secure home before you leave for the vacation you've been dreaming of:

Step 1: Be aware. Get well-acquainted with the crime level in your area by talking to neighbors and looking online. Look at house burglary statistics and always remember to do the obvious things like locking your doors and windows. It's better to be safe than sorry, so prepare for the worst possible situation and never be caught by surprise.

Step 2: Inform the neighbors. If you've already asked one of your neighbor's kids to come over and cut your grass or feed the goldfish, you're on the right track, but don't hesitate to take it one step further. Make sure you let at least one responsible neighbor know you'll be out of town. That way they will be aware of your absence and be ready to contact the authorities if they notice any suspicious activity.

Step 3: Are you covered? Make sure your house insurance covers burglaries and other potential emergencies that could arise with a vacant house. You don't want to be caught unprepared and have to pay big money for it later.

Step 4: Trust the professionals. If you don't already own one, consider investing in a home security system to protect your home not just for the week you're gone, but all day every day. SecurityChoice.com provides free consultations so you can figure out which security package best fits the needs of you and your family. Professionals will install the system for you and do a follow-up call to make sure everything is running smoothly. These systems can include but are not limited to, equipment, like infrared interior motion sensors, high-decibel alarms and communication with a 24/7 call center. The best way to be secure is to let the professionals do what they do best.

Step 5: Play it safe. Don't just rely on a security system for safety. A home in America is robbed every 10 seconds, according to Farmers Home Insurance. Take additional precautions, such as using automatic timers for your lights and TV so the house looks lived-in, as well as having a neighbor pick up your newspaper so thieves are not alerted by a pile of papers lying on the driveway. Also, don't tell many people that you're leaving town. Just tell some trusted neighbors as well as the authorities, so they know which house to monitor more closely.

Step 6: Sit back and relax. Don't worry about your home. A trustworthy security company is monitoring your house day and night, and you've done everything humanly possible to prevent your home from intrusion. So buy yourself a drink with one of those cute umbrellas and soak up the sun, knowing your beloved home is safe and sound. Don't forget to use suntan lotion, and to soak in the rays gradually. If you get sunburned the first day, your skin will peel, you'll be miserable, and you'll look like a tomato. So play it safe. You live in your skin and you live in your home, so take the necessary precautions before leaping with wild abandon into the ocean and swimming along with those cute dolphins you've dreamed so oft about.