Vacations are stressful enough as it is, from planning and scheduling to trying to figure out if everyone else is on the same page. What gets worse is when you have to leave your home empty, and you can’t be sure if it’ll be safe while you’re gone.
Here are the top things everyone should do before leaving their home for a vacation.
Hold Your Mail and Papers
This priority has been the most important for over a hundred years, and it’s not changing any time soon. The moment you know that you’re traveling, it’s essential that you take the time to request a mail and paper holder. Instead of papers and mail piling up and making it evident that you’re not home, you can make it look like you’re simply looking at real estate in Toronto for the day.
Clean House
Nobody wants to come back to a messy house. In a couple of days leading up to your vacation, take the time to deep clean your home. This means ensuring your kitchen is spic and span and ensuring that your bathroom and living room are guest-ready. Traveling is already a headache, so it’s a good idea to take the time to ensure you can come back to something fresh. No work is required; you can slide into your pajamas and sleep off the stress from the trip.
Unplug Anything Unneeded
Save a little electricity while you’re gone, and unplug any electronics that aren’t needed. This means opening your television and cable box, unplugging your desktop computer, and anything else that drains power generally.
Set Up A Timed Light or Two
This is the oldest game in the book, but it can still be made fresh! Consider putting a timer in your living room and or bedroom. If you use both, you can have the living room light click off at 10 pm, and then the bedroom light clicks on immediately after for an hour or so.
If this feels too predictable for you and makes you nervous, you can always set up your home with smart bulbs that you can turn on and off from an app on your phone. This will allow you to set random times and possibly play music at random times of the day, so it sounds like you’re home.
Put Your Car in the Garage
Nothing quite says ‘nobody’s home’ quite like a car that goes unmoved over two or three weeks. Instead of this, park your car either in your garage or at a friend’s residence. You can take the chance to clean your vehicle so that it’s fresh and clean when you get back, but your main priority should be that it’s out of view.
This is especially important if you plan on being out of town in the winter in an area with severely cold weather. Allowing your vehicle to sit out in the elements for a couple of weeks when it’s freezing could be murder for your battery.
Author: Maralyn
Maralyn Dennis Hill, The Epicurean Explorer, is president emeritus of International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association, member of Society of American Travel Writers, and Society of Professional Journalists. She is Executive Editor of Luxe Beat Magazine and contributes to other publications. She also speaks and is a guest on many shows. The majority of Maralyn’s articles are now geared to the luxury market, spas, corporate retreats, business events, and culinary tourism, from simple to gourmet. Maralyn’s description of herself: I was born to travel and tell the tale. I’m energized by different cultures in every aspect of their lives, from food, wine, and destination, to how they conduct business. Travel represents a continual geography lesson.
