Security at home base?

We started RVing when we owned our house. Found out real quick that we liked traveling ALOT! So we sold the house, bought a townhouse. We don't have issues with lawn service, etc and have kids local that will pick up mail every 30 days from post office. I really thought my DH would have a problem downsizing from a 3 car garage to a one…surprised me when he said we should have done it sooner! BTW, we don't have any of the horror stories about townhouse/condo living that some people experience…we have great neighbors.
Our HOA allows us to have our rig in the driveway overnight, but find that we've become real good at planning and staging our "stuff" we take. Haven't had a problem…pushed it to two nights with permission from HOA on occasion (usually for long trips or maintenance).
Enjoy your travels.

jolooote wrote:
Turn OFF outside water & gas mains that feed the whole house.

That might work in South Florida, where there are no problems with freezing. Otherwise it means emptying the house of anything that might freeze, draining water lines, and winterizing drains.

If I'm going to leave a house empty and unheated, I'll shut off the power too.

We go through these options taking cabins out of service at the lake, but there is some cost and effort getting the place back into service, as opposed to leaving it ready to walk back in and live in it.

Turn OFF outside water & gas mains that feed the whole house.

Don't turn off the gas main IF you use gas heat to keep the house at a minimum temperature.

Turn OFF outside water & gas mains that feed the whole house.

Monitoring my alarm costs me under $30 a month, through a local company that responds physically if I don't call in or they can't reach me by phone. Not all alarm companies do that.

It cost my another $50 a month, for the two years I was away, for physical checks of the exterior several times a day and a weekly check of the interior. This included authority to contract emergency repairs on my behalf.

My lawn guy checked at least weekly and took care of exterior problems.

What is available depends a whole lot where you are. What is needed depends a whole lot where you are. Where I am, the biggest threat to be monitored is weather damage.

I know people who use house sitters. Some have good experience, some had bad experience. My house sitter didn't handle maintenance as needed, trashed the place and moved on when she found a better situation.

My snowbird brother moves between his two homes with them watched by neighbors, family, and lawn service/property management guy who takes care of maintenance inside and out. Property management services are available in almost any small city or larger.

A retired Army Special Ops relative stays at our house with his two pistols and a rifle. Never had a problem.

Alarm system and security cameras & varied light timers. I can view cams at any time and all are motion sensitive. Have not ever seen anyone snooping around in the 5 years I've had the set-up. Did catch my college age son having people over for an unsanctioned pool party. Also, sis-in-law checks things when we're gone multiple weeks.

Depending on one's location, I've heard of various RV'ers who sit as caretakers on someone else's property.

In return, Free camping spot for a specified time, water hookup and keys to check interior of house and any outbuildings, animal care
(ie: pets and livestock), sorting and forwarding mail, mowing, etc. Black water dumping doable into house toilet, I assume, gotta be a way to do that.

chris3403 wrote:
X2 on the previous post plus a good neighbor I trust with a key.

Same here.
Turned off everything that was not needed. Removed everything from exterior. Take everything we need with us. Keep insurance up to date.

Have a neighbor or relative keep a watch over the place if you can. Regular maintenance, lawn mowing, snow removal. Lights on timers help also. If a car is to be parked in the driveway, have it moved to a different position in the driveway periodically. Anything that can make it seem like the place is not vacant.