There is no better feeling than coming home after several weeks or months of being away for work as a travel nurse. However, if your house needs maintenance or a good cleaning, it may not be the most enticing thing to return to. Not only can unoccupied tax homes be at risk for damage, deterioration, and other forms of danger. Unoccupied homes can even attract criminal activity, such as vandalism and theft. This is why taking care of and securing your tax home, even from afar, is important.

This article outlines several methods for securing and maintaining tax homes for travel nurses, helping ensure that their homes remain clean, well-kept, and secure throughout the year.

Prioritize and invest in security solutions

Aside from making sure that your doors, windows, sheds, and garages are locked before you leave, you need to invest in good home security solutions, such as the following:

• Deadbolt locks for doors
• Solid wood or steel exterior doors
• Home security system
• Locks for pet doors
• Motion sensor outdoor lights

Make sure that mail, delivery items don’t pile up

One of the biggest tell-tale signs that a house is unoccupied is when mail, newspapers, and parcels pile up on your front porch. Make sure that you contact your local post office to request to stop mail delivery until you return from your assignment. The USPS can hold your mail for 30 days, but if your assignment is longer than that, consider signing up for a mail forwarding service.

Instead of having items delivered at home, companies such as FedEx, UPS, and Amazon can be rerouted to a nearby pickup location.

Invest in smart home technology

Smart home technology can help you keep tabs on your home remotely and allow you to manage your devices via an app. The following internet-connected devices are worth looking into if you’re away from home for long stretches of time:

• Smart door locks – Allow you to remotely give access to trusted friends who will visit your house to check on things or do simple errands.  
• Smart lighting systems – Give you the ability to remotely turn on the lights at night to make your house appear occupied.
• Smart home monitors – Inform you of changes in air quality, water leaks, unusual water flows, water failures, and power surges.  
• Smart blinds or shades – Can be set up to be drawn or opened at certain hours to make the house appear occupied. Closed curtains or blinds for extended periods can indicate that a residence is unoccupied, and opening them gives the illusion that someone’s at home.

Make friends or relatives check your house regularly

Ask your trusted friends, neighbors, or relatives to regularly check in on your home at different times of the day. If you have a smart door knob with a keypad, you can remotely unlock the door for them to enter your home without needing to provide an extra key.

If you’ll leave your vehicle at home and Ubering to the airport, ask a trusted friend or relative to move your vehicle’s parking periodically.

Stay low-key on social media

Even though it might be tempting to share a quick Facebook update about your next assignment, it’s safer to stay low-key on social media. Malicious actors are always on the lookout for social media posts advertising that homeowners are away to carry out burglaries unhampered. Posting about being away can also make you a target of scams and fraudulent activities.

If you want to share your beautiful travel photos with your friends online, it’s a good idea to post about it when you’re back home. This will also eliminate the risk of posting live location data, which sometimes gets automatically tagged on posts.

As travel nurses venture into new cities, safeguarding their homes is essential not just for their safety but for their peace of mind. By blending thoughtful precautions with the innovative IoT technologies, you can ensure your sanctuary stays secure while you’re out making a difference in the world. Remember, protecting your home is not just about security — it’s about fostering a sense of calm and focus that empowers you to give your best in every step of your journey. Stay vigilant, stay connected, and most importantly, stay safe — both at home and on your travels.