Prepare Your House for Travel

We spend so much time preparing for our vacations, it’s easy to overlook something important — while you’re away there is usually no one there to protect your castle. These simple tips will help make sure your house is still your home when you return from your trip.

Put a vacation hold on your mail. Snail mail is quickly becoming a thing of the past, but it still shows up every day. An overflowing mailbox is a dead giveaway no one’s home, but so is having an unfamiliar face show up every day to pick it up for you. Play it safe and have the post office hold it for you. You can take care of it in person, but it’s easy to arrange a hold online (https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/).

Turn off the water and unnecessary electricity. No one wants to come home to water damage from an unchecked leak and, even when appliances aren’t in use, they’re still pulling electricity when plugged in. Pull the plug on anything that doesn’t need to stay plugged in.

If you have a trusted neighbor let them know you’ll be gone so they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Make sure they know how to reach you in an emergency, like if a sprinkler pipe bursts while you’re gone. Other than said neighbor and close family, keep your vacation plans to yourself so you don’t advertise your absence.

Leave the house clean and tidy so when you return you walk into a comforting environment. Instead of coming home to a lengthy to-do list, make sure you come home to a welcoming sight and a cozy bed.