The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
First Aid For The Ailing Houses
The locks on the exterior doors should be pin-tumbler types, which do not lend themselves to picking. The best is the double-locking type, which shoots a bolt into the latch plate upon a second turn of the key. Doors without pin-tumbler locks should have bolts set from the inside.
All valuables should be placed in a safety-deposit box before leaving. Serial numbers and descriptions of larger items, such as television sets, radios, refrigerators, small appliances, typewriters, etc., should be noted down .and placed in the safety-deposit box.
Police have often recovered stolen items through lists of serial numbers and descriptions furnished by far-sighted home owners.
Under no circumstances should guns or other weapons be left around the house when it is to be closed for any length of time. If no neighbor will care for them, the police will usually be glad to do it. They are quite concerned lest such lethal weapons fall into the hands of burglars.
In many cities, the police, when notified of the house becoming vacant for an extended period of time, will have the local patrolman or patrol car stop by regularly for a thorough inspection of the house and grounds. State police will do the same in the country, if requested.
SAVING MONEY ON A CLOSED HOUSE
If a house is to be closed for an entire season or for more than a month or so, it may be a saving to have the telephone, the electricity, and the gas and water turned off. This will necessitate paying an extra charge for having men come out and turn them off and on. This may cause inconvenience unless the utility companies are alerted in advance by letter to have the services turned on again before the family arrives. Most gas, water, and electrical utility companies refuse to turn on the service unless someone is at the house with a key to let them in to check that taps, pilot lights, burners, and appliances are off before the services are restored. This usually requires having a neighbor or friend stand by.
Since there is a minimum monthly charge for utilities, whether any are used or not, these charges over a long period are usually more than the regular bills for turning off and on the service. Having the utilities off will not only remove cause for worry, but may be a sizable savings.
Many fire-insurance policies have a "vacancy permit" clause which requires that the company be notified, so they may assure themselves that fire-producing causes are removed before the house closing. It is well to read the small print in the policy before closing up and leaving, for a voided insurance policy can result in a loss of many thousands of dollars if there is a fire.
