An empty house is mostly at risk because it looks empty: mail piling up, no lights, an unshovelled driveway, or a social media post saying you are on a beach. Securing your Ottawa home for a trip means two things: making sure every door and window is genuinely locked, and making the house look lived in until you get back.

Want a lock fixed or upgraded before you leave? Call (613) 707-4884.

One to Two Weeks Before You Leave

  • Fix locks that stick or do not latch. A deadbolt that only goes halfway, or a patio door latch that no longer catches, is easy to ignore day to day but leaves the house open while you are gone.
  • Choose one trusted person to check the house. Give them a key or a temporary code, your travel dates and a way to reach you.
  • Retrieve hidden spare keys. A key under a mat or in a fake rock is a bigger risk when nobody is home for days.
  • Arrange mail and deliveries. Ask Canada Post to hold your mail or have your neighbour collect it, and pause newspaper and package deliveries.
  • Book snow clearing for winter trips. In an Ottawa winter, an untouched driveway and walkway after a snowfall is one of the clearest signs nobody is home.

The Day You Leave: Lock-Up Checklist

  1. Lock every exterior deadbolt, including back and side doors.
  2. Lock the door between the garage and the house, and the garage side door.
  3. Bar or pin sliding patio doors.
  4. Close and latch every window, including basement windows.
  5. Unplug or secure the garage door opener if your opener allows it, and take remotes out of any car left in the driveway.
  6. Set light timers or smart plugs in a few rooms on varied schedules.
  7. Close blinds on windows that show valuables, but leave the house looking normal rather than shut up.

Giving a House-Sitter Access

A physical key works, but you cannot see when it is used and you will want it back. A keypad or smart lock makes temporary access easier:

  • Create a separate code for the house-sitter instead of sharing your own.
  • On models that support it, schedule the code to work only during your trip.
  • Check the lock's activity log, if it has one, to see when the door was opened.
  • Delete the code when you return.

Before relying on a smart lock while away, replace the batteries and make sure a working key or backup option is available to your house-sitter. Our smart lock installation guide covers choosing and fitting one.

While You Are Away

  • Avoid posting trip photos publicly until you are home.
  • Ask your house-sitter to vary the times they visit, bring in flyers and move the blinds now and then.
  • If they find a door open, damage or signs of entry, they should not go in. They should leave and call 911 if someone may still be inside.

When You Get Home

Walk around the outside first and check doors, frames and windows for pry marks. Collect any keys you lent out and delete temporary codes. If a key went missing during the trip, rekeying the lock is the simplest way to make sure it no longer works. For more everyday habits, see our home security tips for Ottawa homeowners.

Next Step

If you would like a keypad or smart lock in place before your next trip, see our smart lock installation page, or call (613) 707-4884 to talk through your options.