Planning for a vacation can be stressful. After all, packing for yourself and your family is certainly no walk in the park, even if you will only be gone for a few days. When you’re getting ready to leave your home, make sure that it is also prepared for your absence.
Before you leave your home, run through and check off each of the following items:
Mow the Grass
If you don’t want to announce to the entire neighborhood that you’re away from home, you need to ensure that your house will maintain its normal appearance. One of the most prominent things that will tip others off about your absence is an overgrown lawn. Avoid this by mowing your lawn before you leave, or by arranging a neighbor to cut the grass while you’re away.
Make Arrangements for Newspaper and Mail Delivery
Another way that others will notice that you are gone is by a pile of old newspapers in the driveway or an overflowing mailbox. Prevent these buildups by either cancelling delivery while you are gone, or by arranging for a trusted neighbor to collect them while you’re gone. Newspapers handle holds differently, but the USPS allows Mail Hold requests to be made online for your convenience.
Invest in a Light Timer
A dark home will also begin to look suspicious after a few days. A quick trip to your local big box or hardware store can solve this with a simple light timer. Set the lights to turn on around twilight, and turn off about the time that you usually go to bed. Do this in all rooms that face the street, varying the times slightly for each room.
Unplug “Energy Vampires”
There is no point in wasting energy while you’re gone, so go through your home and unplug everything that you can before you leave. Obviously things like the refrigerator need to run, but the can opener, toaster, televisions, and computers can be unplugged. This will save you a bit on your energy bill, and reduce your chances of anything starting a spontaneous fire.
Also conserve energy in your absence by turning down the air while you’re away. There is no need to cool off an empty house, just ensure you maintain the necessary temperature for pets, houseplants, and furniture. In some cases, you can also set your water heater in vacation mode (typically indicated by a “VAC” setting – see your owner’s manual for more information).
Share Your Emergency Contact Information
It is always a good idea to share your emergency contact information with a trusted neighbor when you leave. Make sure that they know the dates that you will be gone, as well as the address of the place that you will be staying, and contact information for you and at least one family member that won’t be travelling with you.
Also make sure that your Boston home insurance policy is ready to protect your property while you’re away. Before you leave on your vacation, call Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency at 617-298-0655 for a quick and easy home insurance review. Then you can rest assured that your home is protected as you enjoy your vacation.
