You’ve packed your bags, you’ve purchased your airplane tickets, and you have your passport ready for an exciting family trip abroad. There’s one major thing left to do before you set out on a big trip, prepare your home.
If you’re planning to travel soon, here are the things you need to take care of before you set out on a new journey.
1.) Make it Seem That Someone’s Still There
You can protect your home while you’re gone by making it seem like someone’s still there. You can do this easily if you set up a few things while you’re gone.
First, get your mail and newspapers to be held by the post office. A major clue that someone’s out of town is when the mail starts piling up.
Next, be sure to have your grass cut if you’re planning to be traveling for a few weeks. Finally, position a few lights around the house that can turn on and off at various times. Use timers to make it automatic.
Who can forget the classic party scene from Home Alone? 🙂
2.) Empty Your Refrigerator and Trash Cans
Next, you want to make sure all perishable items are taken out of the refrigerator or freezer. The week before you leave, be sure to use up all items that may go bad while you’re gone.
Anything that’s left must be thrown away or better yet, donated. You don’t want to come home to a nasty smell of rotting food. When you’re just about ready to leave, be sure to drop your trash off or leave it for pickup.
Don’t accidentally leave it in your garbage can. Doing so may attract unwanted rodents or bugs, not to mention, a horrible stench upon your return.
3.) Be Ready for Different Weather Scenarios
If you’re only traveling for a week or so, you may be able to anticipate any type of weather events that are in the forecast.
For longer journeys, you may have to be diligent in your preparations and be ready for a variety of weather situations.
For summer travel, protect your home from thunderstorm damage by securing any loose items outside.
For winter trips, ensure that your home’s heat is on in order to prevent your pipes from freezing.
Yikes! Avoid frozen pipes on your return… or end up with no water. 🙁 (Source: Cha già José)
4.) Adjust Your Energy Usage
You can help save yourself some money while you’re gone if you are smart about your energy preparations for your property.
Go through your home and unplug as many items as you can to help lower your usage a bit. Next, adjust your thermostat to reflect the unoccupied home.
For a trip during the summer, raise the temperature.
For winter trips, talk to your heating and cooling professionals, such as Reimer Home Services, to get a recommendation about which temperature to set your home to.
5.) Have a Trusted Neighbor Keep Watch
Finally, one of the best things you can do for your home is to have a neighbor keep an eye on it.
No matter how much you prepare, there’s always the risk of something happening. If there’s a serious problem, your neighbor can let you know.
That way, you can simply relax and enjoy your vacation without worrying about your property.
A family vacation is an exciting way to explore the world while also bonding with everyone you are close to. Don’t let your home get in the way of your enjoyment of your trip. Before you step out, get your house ready to be left behind!
How do you prepare your home for a stress-free vacation?
Thanks to Freepik for the unedited version of the featured image.
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