subject: Travel - Preparing Your Home For Your Absence [print this page] When planning a vacation some of the last details that a traveler usually deals with can actually be the most important: What will happen with my house, children, pets, plants, automobiles, mail, newspapers, etc. while I am gone?
Often a traveler will pay a quick visit to a neighbor the day before they leave with their last minute request for someone to pick up newspapers, flyers and mail and to water their house plants. When children and pets are left behind a little more advance planning is a must but there are many factors to consider to make sure that everything is left in good hands.
The following are things to plan and prepare for when leaving your home behind to take a vacation:
Let trusted neighbors know about your upcoming absence and have them keep a diligent eye on your home. Let them know if someone will be coming to care for the home, when they will be coming and what they look like.
Eliminate obvious signs of absence such as the grass not being cut, the driveway not being cleared of snow, accumulations of newspapers or door-to-door flyers, a full mailbox, lack of vehicles in your driveway, etc. You usually can count on a neighbor to see to chores such as taking in mail and newspapers or parking their extra cars in your driveway. You can also contact your newspaper subscription department to cease delivery while you are away. You may need to specially contract a landscaping or snow removal service to take care of the grass and driveway.
Set up timers for your indoor and outdoor lighting systems or have motion detector light systems installed outside for when you are both home and away.
You may wish to leave a radio playing inside the house to indicate that someone is listening to it.
Leaving clean dishes piled up in the kitchen sink area, shoes and jackets scattered inside a doorway, a laundry basket full of clothes or an ironing board with an unplugged iron that is visible through a window can give the appearance that someone is inside the home or returning shortly.
For energy saving measures reset thermostats or air-conditioning systems to allow for the fact that nobody will be there to suffer personal comfort issues such as cold or heat.
Make sure all appliances and taps have been shut off before leaving, empty garbage cans and discard refrigerator items that will spoil such as milk.
In the hours prior to your departure move items that you have packed and are taking with you to one room or to a foyer rather than leaving them scattered in rooms throughout the house. This will help you avoid leaving something behind.
The last thing to do before closing the house is to check that all windows and doors are closed and locks are secured.
If someone is looking in on your house during your absence make sure they have a proper set of keys that function and test their ability to arm and disarm any security system that you have.
If you are taking a vacation and decide to leave children and pets behind there are several other complications and challenges to prepare for.
