It is common to freak out a bit the day before a long trip. Checking piles of mail, throwing the dirty in the washing machine or searching for your favorite pair of headphones all sound familiar.
A checklist for a vacation isn’t the part of travel you look forward to, but keep your post-holiday bliss a bit longer, these quick and easy tips will ensure that you come back to a home that is in order.
Take long-term insurance
Home and travel insurance cover are most important to get before your trip, as things do not always plan out to perfection, especially on a long holiday. Get your home insured for burglary etc. If you are taking a cruise, medical insurance may cease to cover you the moment the ship leaves. Opt for cruising deals that offer insurance coverage at an additional charge above your regular insurance cost.
Meet your neighbor
Invite your neighbor over for a cup of coffee, well in advance, and explain that you will be away for quite some time. Maybe you can convince them to watch out for your mail and keep a watch on the house and water the plants from time to time. Your trusted neighbor may not be able to prevent a housebreak, but at least they can notify you and the authorities to get help quickly.
Unplug unnecessary electrical appliances
Unplugging electronic appliances not only saves money and energy but reduces the risk of fires. While the TV and vacuum cleaner can be disconnected, the fridge is never completely empty, so it stays plugged in. Anything that has an LED light, like the WiFi router, should be unplugged. Go through all the rooms and make a list the day before you leave so that you don’t leave any appliances on by mistake, which is not needed.
Prepare the exterior of your home
Burglars are always on the lookout for tell-tale signs which will give them a clue that nobody is at home. If you are away for two weeks or more, prepare the house from the outside to make it look occupied. You can do this by:
- Mowing the lawn and cleaning the driveway
- Arranging a neighbor to put garbage cans out on trash day.
- Ask the post office to hold your mail
- Trim overgrown bushes
- Arrange for someone to check in from time to time
Install timers for the lights
A very simple and effective way to deter burglars is by fitting timers to the lights around your house. You can upgrade the effect by installing smart bulbs. This will not only allow you to control the lights remotely, but you can switch them on and off at different times each day. This will simulate that there is always someone at home. You can go a step further by putting the entire house on smart vacation mode, like for instance having the TV to play for a few hours each night to make it seem more convincing that the house is occupied.
