Your much-needed long vacation is finally coming, and at last, you can fully relax and unwind. To make sure that your mind will not be occupied about the safety and condition of your home while you are away, there are things that you can do to prepare for it. It will help so you can completely feel the moment while on your trip, instead of worrying about your property.
Clean the house
You must leave the house in a clean state because decluttering is something that you don’t want to do when you get home from your vacation. You will be tired from the trip, and all you will want to do is rest. You will thank yourself for doing the cleaning and organizing before traveling. Cover furniture with dust sheets too, to avoid dust and dirt accumulation. You don’t want your gorgeous Ashley North Shore furniture or luxurious bed all covered in dirt when you get home.
Empty the fridge
Remove everything from the fridge if going on an extended vacation to prevent food from getting spoiled, which can cause a nasty smell. If you know that you are going on a trip, limit your shopping before your travel schedule to avoid food from going to waste.
Plan for Expenses
Unfortunately, your bills don’t disappear while you’re on the road. Everything from mortgage/rent, utilities, TV service, car payments, and so on need to be paid. If you average roughly the same amount each month in bills and expenses, it is pretty easy to estimate what you might need to set aside. You can also use a bill tracking app to keep up with your monthly expenses and give you a better idea of the average cost per month.
Notify the alarm company
Let your alarm company know that you will be on a vacation so they can respond immediately in case they see something suspicious. You will have peace of mind knowing that someone is looking after the security of your property.
Set the thermostat and water heater
It is not recommended to turn off your cooling and heating system even if you are going on a long trip. The best thing to do is set the thermostat to ensure that you keep it at a comfortable temperature. Some of the latest systems have a vacation mode that you can choose to automatically adjust the setting to one that will be perfect if you will be away for quite some time.
Prepare your pets
You want your pets to be taken good care of even when you are away. Find a trusted person that can look after your pets while you travel. There are also pet service providers that offer accommodation and care for pets while owners are away. Arrange this to make sure that your pets will be comfortable and properly cared for.
Have someone look after your home
If possible, ask a family member, friend, or a trusted individual to look after your home when you travel. It’s best if that person can stay there while you are away, but if not, at least check it regularly.
Set the light timer
Setting the timer to turn on the lights in the late afternoon automatically will trick people into thinking that someone is at home. Intruders will have second thoughts about breaking into your house if they think that there are people in there.
Aside from the things listed, make sure that you double-check all the possible entries to your house, including windows, doors, and gates, and see to it that they are properly locked.
