When you leave on vacation, there’s always that little voice in the back of your head that worries you. What you come home to an unpleasant surprise? What if would-be burglars can tell you’re not home? Since we all have that worry, here are some easy ways to get your home ready for your trip.
1. Light it Up
Most of us know that the dark homes are the ones more likely to be burglarized. If you’re just out for the evening and not on a trip, leave a couple of lights on (don’t forget the front porch) to make it look like someone’s home. If you’ll be gone for a couple of days or a couple of weeks, use automated timers to control your lights, or have a trusted friend turn them on and off for you.
2. Unplug
You might go on a vacation to unplug from adult responsibilities for a while, but you should also unplug unused appliances while you’re gone. Think toasters, mixers, space heaters, etc. You’ll reduce your risk of some kind of electrical fire getting started while there’s nobody home to report it. You might save some energy, too.
3. Stop the Mail
Nothing says “vacation” like mail and newspapers piling up. The post office will let you schedule a mail hold while you’re gone, and deliver the accumulated mail on a specified date. You can schedule the hold online. Your newspaper delivery service probably offers something similar.
4. Prevent Infestation
The last thing you want to come home to is an insect infestation. To keep ants, spiders, and other creepy crawlers out of your house while you’re gone, spray your foundation and around doors and windows with an insecticide.
5. Program Your Thermostat
If you aren’t willing to completely turn off the AC while you’re gone, set your thermostat higher so you aren’t wasting energy and money cooling a house that nobody’s staying in. As for the furnace, you can lower your thermostat in the winter, but don’t go too low or you’ll risk a pipe freeze.
I highly recommend using The Nest to keep your home the correct temperature. You can learn more, and purchase it here.
Leave a Reply