May 6th, 2020 | Updated on June 30th, 2022
Taking a vacation is supposed to be relaxing. The last thing you want to do the whole time you’re away is worry about what’s happening back home.
With this in mind, you should prepare your home when leaving for vacation and make sure everything is going to be OK with it while you’re gone.
It’ll allow you to relax on vacation as opposed to being concerned about what’s going on at home.
Here are five smart ways to prepare your home before leaving for vacation.
1. Clean Up Around Your House
When you get back from vacation in a week or two, you don’t want to walk into a house that’s a complete mess. Take some time to clean it up before leaving for vacation.
You should be especially mindful of doing things like:
- Cleaning out the refrigerator
- Taking out the trash
- Scrubbing down the sinks and toilets
Doing each of these things will ensure you return to a clean house once vacation is over. It’ll also prevent you from walking into a home filled with strange smells.
2. Adjust Your Thermostat
If you happen to be taking a vacation in the middle of the spring or fall, you might not have to adjust your thermostat too much. You might be able to get away with shutting it off completely.
If you’re going on a vacation in the winter or summer, you’ll want your heating and cooling system to spring into action every so often.
HVAC prevents your home from getting too cold or too hot. You should adjust your thermostat accordingly so that it’s able to do this.
3. Put Your Lights On Timers
If you’re preparing to go on, say, a cruise in and around Japan, you want all your attention to be focused on the sights and sounds of your vacation. A Japan cruise offers a unique balance between urban and natural wonders.
You don’t want to have to spend a single second worrying about the possibility of someone breaking into your home while you’re away.
There are things you can do to reduce the chances of this happening.
Putting your lights on timers is one very effective method of reducing the chances of a home burglary.
Lights that are on timers will make it appear as though you’re home, even when you’re off cruising around in Japan.
4. Ask Your Neighbors To Get Your Mail
Putting the lights in your home on timers might give people the idea that you’re home while you’re on vacation.
But nothing will offset it quite like a mailbox that’s overflowing with mail.
See if one of your neighbors can get your mail every day while you’re on vacation. See if they might be willing to keep their eyes on your house for any signs of suspicious activity, too.
5. Check To See That Your Windows And Doors Are Locked
This should almost go without saying, but don’t even think about leaving for vacation before you’ve checked (and double-checked!) every single window and door in your home and made sure they’re locked.
You’re going to be asking for trouble if you accidentally forget to lock a window or door in your home for a week or more.
Leaving For Vacation Shouldn’t Stress You Out
Recent studies have shown that vacations have started to stress a lot of people out. Well over 50% of people report feeling at least a little stressed while on vacation these days.
Work to eliminate one possible source of stress by doing everything we’ve mentioned here before leaving for vacation. By taking these steps, you’ll be able to relax more while you’re away.
Read our blog for more tips on getting your home ready for a vacation.
