At this time of year, for some, the holidays are spent cozy and comfortable at home. But for millions of Americans, it means packing up and traveling to see family and friends, or enjoying a long vacation.
 
Whether you're planning a tropical getaway or a trip back to your hometown, there are several precautions you should take to protect your home while it sits unattended. Avoid some worst-case scenarios with these six tips from Erie Insurance:

Share your plans. Choose a few trustworthy neighbors and friends to share your itinerary with, letting them know where you’re going and for how long. While they can probably reach you via your mobile device, take the extra step of providing your departure and arrival dates, flight numbers and times, and a contact number where you'll be staying, just in case something happens to your phone.

Make a plan for deliveries. Have a neighbor collect your mail, or ask the postal service to hold it for you. Leave instructions for all packages, too, to make sure deliveries don’t go unattended on your doorstep.

Plan for snow removal. Hire someone to plow your driveway should it snow, and ask a neighbor to pull up and turn around in your driveway from time to time, just to leave tracks. Otherwise, a mound of untouched snow is a dead giveaway that no one’s at home.

Put your lights to work. The easiest way to deter a burglar is to make them think someone’s home, so invest in timers for your family room and bedrooms, and set them to switch on lamps at various times. A radio left on a talk station can also make burglars think someone is home.
 
Lower your thermostat. If you don’t have pets, you can lower the temperature to 55 degrees Fahrenheit, which is warm enough to keep things from freezing, but cool enough to give your furnace and energy usage a break.

Prepare for water emergencies. Should a pipe burst or even leak while you're gone, it could slowly empty water into your basement, damage appliances, furniture and much more. Turn off the water main in your home before you leave and drain the pipes by flushing the toilets and turning on the faucet. Also, be sure to turn your water heater to "vacation mode" so you aren't spending money on keeping water warm when you're not around.

Taking these simple steps will give you great peace of mind during your holiday travels, allowing you to kick back, relax and enjoy the season.