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Get Your Home Ready for Vacation

You Can't Skip Out on These Steps

By KevinPublished 5 years ago 4 min read
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You have earned this vacation, and you want to spend every moment of it enjoying the festivities. If you are concerned about the safety of your home in your absence this is going to make your vacation more about worrying, and less about enjoying yourself.

We have prepared a few ways for you to prepare for your absence during your vacation. Prepare your home before you depart by taking these measures, and feel more secure.

Preparing Others

It is true that you should not post on social media when you are going on vacation, especially if your settings are set to public, or your friend's friends can view what you post.

Your neighbors should know that you are on vacation. This way if there is anything suspicious or worthy of checking out they will be prepared. They could come over, and change up the outer appearance of your home to make it appear that someone has been home.

You can also ask a friend to come by the house, and stay a few nights. This will show that there is life inside the home, and intruders will move on elsewhere.

If you must keep your home within your view, there are also apps where you can turn on a webcam or tablet, and watch a live feed from your phone.

The Outside of Your Home

Take a walk around your property with a new set of eyes to see what is vulnerable, and gives away the fact that you are not home. You are not only looking for ways to prevent intruders, but also for any other major or minor accidents that could happen.

If you have been putting off fixing the fencing, and the fencing helps in keeping strays dogs out of your yard, or out of the trash, then now is the time to fix the fencing. What other things are broken, or need repair that may bring about a bigger issue during your absence? This is the perfect time to fix that small roof leak in the shed.

If it is winter time, then insulate pipes, so that they do not burst during your absence.

On your patio, remove loose items that could be swept away with the wind. This includes ornaments, home supplies, and chairs and tables. Bring those items into the house or the garage.

Your pool should be covered in order to avoid leaves, and other debris from getting in. The cover should be strong enough just in case any small animals come in. Ask your neighbors or friends to stop by to check on this too, so that no animals get caught in your cover if it is too soft.

If your pets are going to remain at home, this is the time to remove any harmful plants, or loose ends that the pet may find amusing to play with, but you will not. No need to leave things within the pet's reach, making a mess that you must clean up upon your return.

Place your car in the garage to keep it safe from intruders, and the weather. If you will be gone for long you could disconnect the battery. If you do not have a garage, and there is only street parking, then your friends or neighbors should have a spare key in order to move your vehicle, or prevent it from being in harm's way.

Preparing the Inside of Your Home

If you are having a neighbor or friend who will stop by, then the inside of your home could stay as it is. If you don’t have a neighbor coming over you should make sure to activate your home security, so you can have that peace of mind while you’re gone. You can still unplug appliances and electronics to save money on the electric bill. You can also unplug your wireless router for your home network, and save even more electricity.

Unplugging appliances is for saving a few dollars on your bill, but also in case a power surge happens. If a power surge happens your electronics will be useless, and you will have to replace each one.

Empty the refrigerator, and throw away food that will spoil easily during your absence.

You may want to consider turning off the main water valve if your trip is a long one. There are so many things that could go wrong with water.

Now that you have these tips in mind, it is time to get to work so that you can enjoy your vacation. You have earned the time off. With these precautions, a spare key to the house, and to the car, and your contact information left with a neighbor, or a trusted friend, you are ready for your vacation. Have fun!

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