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Whether I’m heading out on a week-long family vacation or closing up my summer home for the season, I can’t relax until I adequately prepare my home. These steps are critical to ensure my house does not become a target for burglars. It’s also a way to prevent an expensive disaster, such as a water leak or pest infestation. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, it includes the five most important actions to typically take right before venturing off on that road trip, plane ride, or cruise.
1. Lock windows and close shades.
Although this step might seem obvious, it’s easy to forget to check that every window is locked shut when packing and preparing for a trip. It also takes some time, depending on how many windows you have in your house, so don’t wait until the very last minute to complete this chore.
Leaving just one window ajar can lead to issues, including a home invasion or even water or wind damage if a powerful storm takes place while you are away. I also make sure to close all window treatments, including shades and blinds. This prevents people from peeking into my home to see if anyone is inside.
2. Turn off the main water valve.
I’ve heard too many horror stories from family and friends about coming home to a flooded house because a pipe burst or a toilet got stuck running. To avoid such a messy, costly disaster, be sure to turn off the main water valve in your home before leaving for vacation or in a summer home before departing.
Even a small leak can cause thousands of dollars in damage over a week or two, not to mention the nightmare of dealing with soggy drywall, ruined floors, and potential mold issues. It takes less than 2 minutes to locate your main shutoff valve and give it a turn. Why pay for water and water heating when you’re on vacation?
3. Take care of trash and food.
It’s never a good idea to leave trash lying around, since it can start to stink up your kitchen or garage and attract bugs and other pests. Even if trash day isn’t until later in the week, I always make a plan to ask a neighbor to handle my trash and recycling bins when I’m out of town. Sometimes, I will even take filled trash bags to the local sanitation facility or throw them away at the airport.
I also go through my refrigerator and freeze what I can. I then dispose of any items that could rot or expire while I’m away, such as milk, cheese, and fresh produce from my garden. Leaving fruits and vegetables on the counter or in the fridge could attract flies, maggots, and other pests.
I also check my pantry and seal any open items, such as pasta and rice. Finally, I always run a dishwasher load, making sure not to leave dirty dishes in there, as that can lead to bacterial growth, bad odors, and food particles becoming crusted on dishes.
4. Adjust and program the thermostat.
Another quick step I’m sure to do before locking up is to adjust my thermostat, which saves energy and money. There’s no point in cooling or heating an empty house to my typical comfort level when I’m thousands of miles away.
I typically set the thermostat to 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to ensure the pipes don’t freeze and the hardwood floors don’t get damaged. During the warmer months, the maximum temperature I’ll set it to is 80 degrees Fahrenheit since anything higher can cause mold to grow in the house.
I also have a smart thermostat app on my phone so I can monitor and adjust the temperature in my house from afar. Sometimes I’ll get an alert that the humidity level is too high, so I’ll lower the thermostat using the convenient app.
5. Set up cameras.
Setting up security cameras before I head out on vacation is one of the smartest moves I can make for peace of mind. This way, I don’t have to worry about whether everything’s OK back home since it can see what’s going on live. The cameras also serve as a deterrent for potential burglars who might notice my house looking empty. Plus, if something does happen, I’ll have footage that could be crucial for insurance claims or helping police track down the intruder.
Some people prefer to ask a friend or neighbor to check on their house or pay for a home-watching service, but I am thrilled with how the cameras keep me on top of what’s going on inside my properties. I especially love the alert feature, so anytime there is movement in or around my homes, I receive an instant notification and can check to see what is happening in real time.
