How To Prep Your Home For Vacation
As summer getaways are in full swing, you may be asking yourself, How do I prep my home for vacation? Missing just one small task and you may be coming home to some unfortunate circumstances. Prepping your home for vacation puts your mind at ease so you can relax and not worry about things when you are away. We are going to share some helpful tips when it comes to getting your house ready for being away!
Most check lists for home preparation have the basic tasks. Items like locking doors, shutting off lights, cleaning and tidying the sink, dishwasher, floors and taking out the trash. These are all great but there are often a few important steps to securing your home for vacation that are often overlooked.
Prep your home for vacation checklist
Electrical
Unplug valuable electronics like computers, TV and accessories. This helps protect them against electrical surges during storms, but it also helps protect them and your home from fire while you are away. We also make sure tools are unplugged and even cordless tool battery chargers take some needed time off by getting unplugged.
Water
Take some time to think about water issues while you are preparing your home for vacation. We walk through bathrooms and check for dripping faucets, open all the sink & tub drains. We ensure the toilet is not running due to a faulty flapper as this can cause huge issues with septic systems. On some longer trips, we simply shut off the water in the whole house. This only takes a few seconds and is the most effective. Most homes have one valve at the main water line where it comes in.
Climate Control
Choosing the right thermostat settings is important for saving energy, but it is also important for protecting your home from other elements. We definitely recommend a programmable thermostat like the Nest, so you can check or adjust the temperature while you are away. In the summer, AC is best set to between 80°-85°. This prevents your AC from overworking on a really hot day but also keeps humidity at bay. Closing curtains for windows that let in a lot of sun will help keep your house cool. For winter trips, our thermostat is set to 68°-70° and we open the curtains to let in some sunlight.
Security
It’s good to think about security when prep your home for vacation. Lock your doors and don’t forget to check the windows! Put a hold on incoming mail and slow down on Amazon purchases before your trip! Packages left on doorsteps are a sign that you are away on vacation. We always feel more peace of mind with a video door bell like Ring or Blink. A video door bell system is so easy to install, provides a wide viewing range and will allow you to monitor visitors with motion settings.
Now that you know how to prep your home for vacation you can focus on relaxing and getting unplugged! How are you getting your house ready for being away? Let us know in the comments below one thing you do to get your house ready for some time away!
