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For a lot of people, December means visiting relatives for the holidays or a family vacation during the winter break from school. In the excitement of packing for the big trip, it is easy to forget that your house needs a little vacation prep as well to keep it safe and trouble free while you are gone. A little preparation before you go out of town can help save you a lot of headaches when you get home.
Make sure your house looks lived in:
- Stop the newspaper and mail - or ask a trusted neighbor or friend to pick them up
- If you are leaving your car, park it inside the garage
- Ask a neighbor to park in your driveway occasionally so there's activity at your house
- Leave blinds or curtains slightly open and put at least one light in your house on a timer or use a smart phone app to turn lights on and off
- Install a motion-activated sensor on an outdoor floodlight
Plumbing and electrical preparation:
- Unplug small appliances and electronic devices
- Put the water heater in "vacation" mode if it has one, or turn the temperature down
- Turn off water valves to the dishwasher, washing machine and all sinks and toilets
- Turn your thermostat down, but keep it warm enough so pipes don't freeze
Other things you might want to consider doing:
- Notify your credit card company and home security company that you'll be out of town
- Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly
- Leave your emergency contact information with a neighbor
- Call your local police department to see if they offer a Vacation Watch and register to sign up for extra patrols around your home
- DO NOT post your vacation plans on social media
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