With the holidays coming up which usually involves a bit of traveling, here are some tips from guest post blogger McKinley Carbone.
Going on vacation is super exciting. Whether you are going on a quick weekend trip or leaving for a few weeks, it is important to prepare your home before you leave. It can be a hectic process packing for your trip and preparing your home. Hopefully by following these steps you will be able to have a smooth departure and your mind will be at ease while you are on your awesome vacation.
1. Clean and Tidy
There is nothing worse than coming home to a dirty house after vacation. So before you leave don't forget to take care of your chores. Taking out the trash, doing the dishes, and folding your laundry will leave you house looking tidy and feeling fresh for when you return home.
If you are leaving for a long vacation it could be in your best interest to also clean out the fridge so your food doesn't go bad. It also wouldn't hurt to spray entryways with insecticide so that bugs and critters don't find a home in your kitchen while you are gone. That would be very unpleasant to come home to. Doing an overall cleaning will make your homecoming a little better. Who doesn't like coming home to a clean house?
2. Get your Pets and Plants Taken Care of
You may bring your dog everywhere with you, but even if you are traveling by car you can't always bring your furry friends with you. Before you leave make sure your pets have someone to check up on them, or watch them while you are gone. Make sure whoever is watching them knows their eating schedule, bathroom schedule and give them your pet's favorite toy to play with while they are gone. It will keep your pet happy and give you one less thing to stress about on your vacation.
If you have plants you want to make sure they are watered before you go. If someone is dropping by to check in on the pets you can have them keep an eye on your plants as well.
3. Unplug Appliances and Check Thermostat
It is important to make sure you unplug small appliances while you are gone, it will save you electricity and money. It is also a safety precaution as well. It will decrease the risk of something possibly going wrong and putting your home in danger. You want to make sure to check your thermostat as well, you want to keep it at a comfortable temperature but also make sure your pipes don't freeze, or it is too hot and muggy for animals to be safe.
4. Call in a Favor
If you will be gone for a long time it is good to have someone check up on your home while you are gone. Even if you don't have pets to look after having someone to keep an eye out will give you a sense of security while you are gone. Also you can have whoever is helping you grab your mail so it doesn't pile up in your mailbox. Even letting your neighbor know so they can keep an eye out for suspicious behavior will give you peace of mind and make your vacation even better.
5. Lights
There is a little debate about whether or not to leave the lights in your house on while you are away on vacation. On one hand it will make you home look lived in and prevent people from snooping around, and on the other hand it could look suspicious if your lights are on 24 hours a day.
For a short trip it is good to leave on a few lamps to make the house look occupied. If you are going on a long vacation it could be worth it to invest in a timer that automatically turns your lights on and off throughout the day and night. If you don't use a light timer, you could also have a friend, or neighbor change the lights variously to avoid suspicion. This will keep your house looking normal and lived in while you are gone.
6. Finally
There is always a lot to think about when you are planning a trip. Next time you take a trip to your vacation home, or fly to your parents’ house for the holidays, use these simple tips to keep your mind at ease. This will keep your home clean and ready for when you return. What other tips do you have when you prepare your home for vacation?
Author bio: McKinley is a 22-year-old recent graduate from The College of Idaho. She is a freelance journalist who enjoys hanging out with her cat Meeko. Her pastimes include blogging, snowboarding, and playing Mario Kart. You can usually find McKinley hanging out with friends or on the couch watching 300 (her favorite movie).