Everyone looks forward to a well-deserved vacation. Although you need to prepare for your trip with tasks such as packing clothes and making travel arrangements, it is also important to take some precautions around the house. Preparing your home before a trip will help keep your home protected and also save you some money. Remember these five tips to get your home ready before vacation.
Make it Look Occupied
A home that looks vacant is a prime target for burglars. One way to keep your home safe is to invest in an automatic timer that will turn on lights at specified times throughout the day. For a small monetary investment, you can protect the valuables in your home and have more peace of mind. You could also ask a friend or neighbor to park a car in the driveway so it looks like somebody is home.
Unplug All Devices
During our normal lives, we have many household electronics running at the same time. Televisions, chargers for our phones, microwaves, toasters, and all personal computers need to be unplugged. This can save you a few bucks on your energy bill when you return from your vacation. If a storm were to strike, this also helps to keep your electronics protected from a power surge. Take the extra few seconds to unplug all these appliances when you get your home ready before vacation.
Adjust the Thermostat and Water Supply
Adjusting your thermostat properly can save you big bucks on your electric bill! Although it depends on the time of the year, you can make it warmer or cooler than normal. Just make sure the temperature isn’t too extreme in either direction. If you know you will be leaving for an extended period, it might also be a good idea to turn off the water. However, if you have sprinklers outside, ask a friend to water your plants so they don’t die.
Clean Out The Refrigerator
Check your refrigerator for any items that will spoil like milk, vegetables, eggs, and deli meats. Get rid of all this food before you go, leaving only non-perishable items that will not expire anytime soon.
Get Your Home Ready Before Vacation by Asking a Friend to Help
You might have the best security system in the world, but asking a trusted friend to check in on your home from time to time can give you an extra layer of comfort. Have a friend get your mail and ask them to look around the house to ensure everything looks in place. If you want your pets to stay at home, then you will definitely need assistance from someone. Paying someone trustworthy to watch over your home and pets will be worth it.
Get your home ready for vacation with these few simple tips. When your home is in order before your trip, you’ll enjoy your time off much more knowing everything is taken care of while you’re away!
Homecraft Home Inspections serves the West Central Mountains in Idaho with home inspection services and home testing services for home buyers, home sellers. Contact us to schedule your appointment.