How to prepare your home before leaving for a holiday

It is important to prepare your home before leaving on holiday. Before you pack your bag, there are a few things you need do to prepare your home for the vacation. Here are our best recommendations.

1. Secure your home so it appears occupied

If you're going on a trip, especially a lengthy one, you'll want to make sure your house is safe. Making your home look inhabited might assist ensure that you are not a target for theft.

To safeguard your property and make it appear occupied, do the following:

-Lock any external doors, windows, and garage doors.

-Do not keep any house keys near your front entrance.

-Configure programmable light timers for outdoor lighting.

-Activate any motion-activated outdoor lighting.

-Close your windows and blinds, and take any visible valuables with you.

-Confirm that your security system is operational.

If you have a pleasant relationship with your neighbor, you may ask them to keep an eye on your house and tell you if there is any strange behavior.

2. Find a Trustworthy Neighbour to Keep Watch

Haverford anything is out of the ordinary and immediately bring it to your attention.

You should also be aware that your home insurance policy may require you to have someone check on your home on a regular basis if you leave your home empty for weeks or months. Having eyes and ears on your home while you're away can make you feel much more comfortable leaving your home empty for weeks or months. This is when having wonderful neighbors comes in handy. To make your home appear lived-in and less tempting to burglars, ask or employ someone to bring in the mail, switch on lights on occasion, and shovel the snow. If you are going to be gone for more than a few days, have them look about. For example, some insurance companies will not cover pipes that burst during your absence, unless a competent person checks on the interior of your home every few days. Some insurance companies, for example, will not cover burst pipes while you are away unless a qualified person checks on the interior of your property every few days.

3.  Clean out your fridge

Because you won't be home for a time, wipe out your refrigerator and remove any goods that will spoil while you're gone. This is also an excellent time to clean all surfaces and discard any expired condiments or other goods.

If you're emptying your fridge, you can leave it unplugged and defrosted with the doors open to avoid paying to run it while you're gone.

4. Clean your home

Cleaning a house that will be empty for a while may seem paradoxical, but you will be grateful in the long run. Coming home to a clean and de-cluttered house after a long trip is a lot more enjoyable experience.

Use the following as a quick cleaning checklist:

-Empty your dishwasher and leave the door open to allow the water to drain.

-To avoid arriving home to moldy laundry, make sure there are no garments in the washer or dryer.

-To avoid attracting bugs or rodents while you are away, wipe down your countertops and sanitize the cooktop.

-Clean your garbage disposal with a half-cup of vinegar and water to avoid coming home to an unpleasant (and difficult to remove) odor.

-Before you leave, take out the trash and arrange for someone to take the cans to the street on trash day.

You might even want to dust and vacuum before leaving to reduce the amount of dust and debris in your home.

5. Turning off the Water

One of the most crucial things to do before leaving for the winter is to turn off water valves. This should be at the top of your list of things to do before you depart. Water is one of the most dangerous elements in your home; even a small leak may inflict thousands of dollars in damage. The risk of your pipes freezing is real during the winter months, and when pipes freeze, they eventually burst, which isn't something you'll want to return to after your vacation. Before you leave, turn off any water valves you can, including outdoor faucets and laundry. Before leaving for the winter, some people even turn off the entire water supply to the house. Others prefer to keep some water running and have the person checking in on their home flush the toilets and drains on a regular basis to prevent odors from entering the drain.

6. Pause Unnecessary Utilities

Power outages can be caused by a large electrical storm. Power outages, whether ongoing or brief, can have an influence on and damage appliances in your house, including your computer and television. Before you leave for vacation, go through your house and unplug anything that you won't be using, such as toasters, cable boxes, televisions, kitchen appliances, and anything else.

You can unplug anything that isn't a timed lamp or part of your security system. This includes surge protectors, which aren't perfect and can still cause damage. Not to mention that any turned-off appliances that are still plugged in need electricity, which you are still paying for even though you are not using them.

7. Protect your vehicle

If you leave a car or other vehicle at home while on vacation, ensure sure it is secure and ready for long-term storage. Ideally, you'll store your automobile in a garage, away from the elements. If you don't have a garage, a weatherproof vehicle cover can help keep your car clean and dry.

Once a week, ask a friend or neighbor to start and drive the car. If that isn't possible, disconnect the car battery before leaving or use a battery trickle charger. This will aid in preventing battery drain.

A long period of time can harm the paint.

Here are some more long-term car storage tips:

-Fill up your petrol tank if you're going to be gone for more than 30 days to prevent moisture from gathering and seals from drying out.

-Water stains, bird droppings, mud, grease, or tar left on your car for an extended period of time can damage the paint.

-If you're going to be gone for more than 30 days, change the oil before you leave to prevent contaminants from old oil from damaging your engine.

The Bottom Line

Keep these suggestions in mind when planning a fun family vacation, business trip, or girls' getaway to protect your pets, plants, and property. With meticulous planning, you can leave town knowing that nothing has been left behind or undone. You know the iron is unplugged and the front door is locked. Starting early will allow you to relax into your vacation mode and leave your house prepared and at ease.

Disclaimers

Data provided in this article is of a general nature and should not be construed as specific advice or relied upon in lieu of appropriate professional advice.