Any links in this post to a merchant may contain an affiliate link, which means that if you click on that link and then buy something, I may earn a commission from it. However, all opinions in this link are 100% mine and 100% honest. If I didn't believe in a particular product, I wouldn't recommend it to you.
Preparing for vacation can be almost as much fun as the trip itself. But it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of your trip and forget about your home life. Before leaving, you need to prepare your house and life for vacation mode so you don’t come home to a disaster. Do these 10 smart things before leaving for vacation to ensure everything at home runs as smoothly while you are away as it does when you’re home.
#1: Unplug Small Appliances and Electronics
You never know when you will have a power surge. So, protect your home and belongings from fire by unplugging all small appliances and electronics before you leave.
This includes televisions, computers, and gaming systems. Alternatively, make sure these things are plugged into a surge protector.
#2: Turn Down the Thermostat
Protect your wallet from unnecessarily high utility bills while on vacation by turning your thermostat down (or up, depending on the season).
If no one will be at home, there is no reason for your heating and air conditioning to be running. Just remember to keep your house warm enough in the winter so your pipes won’t burst.
Consider installing a smart thermostat, like the Nest Learning Thermostat, to give you the ability to control the temperature in your home from your phone. You can buy the Nest thermostat from Amazon.
#3: Leave on a Light
The last thing you want to do before leaving for vacation is put up a sign telling burglars that you are away. Turning all the lights off before you leave does just that.
So, leave on an interior light to make it appear from the outside that someone is at home. You also want to leave on at least one outside light.
Better yet, invest in lights that are on timers or motion sensors for inside and outside your home. This way, the bad guys will see lights being turned on and off if they are casing your house while you are gone.
#4: Lock All Doors and Windows
You also want to take a few minutes before leaving on vacation to lock all your doors and windows. This includes all doors into the house, as well as gates into your backyard and the doors to any outbuildings you have on your property. Don’t forget to lock the garage door too!
Criminals are always looking for the easy score. The more difficult you make it to break in, the less likely they are to choose your house.
#5: Set Your Alarm
Another safety measure for your home is to set your house alarm before leaving for vacation. This will not only scare would-be intruders away, but will also give you peace of mind knowing that someone is monitoring your property for any problems.
#6: Tell a Trusted Neighbor
While having your alarm company monitor your house while you are gone is good, having a trusted neighbor keeping an eye out too is even better.
Pick someone that you know will keep a close eye on your home. Tell them when you will be gone, where you will be, and when you will return home.
Leave your cell number with them so they can call you if they see anything suspicious.
#7: Stop Mail and Newspaper Delivery
Thieves look for telltale signs that someone’s not home when they are choosing what houses to burglarize. Outsmart them by having your mail and newspaper delivery stopped during the time you are away.
The post office will hold your mail for a short period of time if you ask. Then, when you return, you can stop by and pick it up.
If you can’t have the deliveries stopped, ask your trusted neighbor to pick them up and hold them for you.
#8: Don’t Leave Hidden Keys
Don’t leave any hidden keys on the outside of your house while you are traveling.
Burglars know all the common places, such as under the mat and in the flower pots. You don’t want to make it easier for the bad guys to break in and steal your stuff.
If you must leave a key out for someone, leave it with your trusted neighbor or give it to the person who needs it before you leave.
#9: Water Your Plants
Don’t forget to water your indoor plants before leaving for vacation.
While this one won’t help to protect your property, it will make life a little more pleasant when you arrive home.
Unless you will be gone for more than 2 weeks, your plants should be ok with a good soak before you leave. If you will be gone longer, look into getting an automatic watering device.
#10: Give a Travel Notice to the Bank
This one is important because it not only affects your money, but it can also have a huge impact on your trip.
Before leaving for vacation, call your bank and let them know you will be traveling and where. They can flag your account so if your cards are used in those locations, the bank will know it is you.
We failed to do this in the past, and it resulted in the bank shutting down our accounts because they thought our cards had been stolen.
One simple phone call can save you tons of time and frustration while you are away.
Conclusion
These 10 simple and smart things to do before leaving for vacation will give you peace of mind that you won’t come home to a disaster. And this will allow you to relax more while on vacation.
For more tips on making your trips better, see how to plan an epic vacation and how to take amazing vacations on any budget.
To learn more tips for relaxing travel, see our tips on stress free travel with your spouse and our ultimate guide to travel with kids.
Happy travels!
P.S. Need help finding the best places to go on your family vacations? My Ultimate USA Bucket List for Families will instantly give you 60 of the best vacation destinations for families in the United States! Get it for FREE in the box below and start planning your next trip today! Plus, as a bonus, you will receive my weekly email newsletter full of family trip tips and inspiration!
Leave a Reply