After a long year, a vacation is a great way to relax and enjoy your time away from home. Before you can take off for a much-needed break, make sure your house is ready for your absence. With just a few simple steps, you can prepare your home for vacation so you have fewer worries while you’re relaxing out of town.
Prepare Your Home for Vacation by Cleaning the Refrigerator
Before leaving for vacation, make sure your refrigerator is clean, and any food that will spoil is eaten or thrown away. Get rid of leftovers, throw away expired products, and wipe down the shelves with a mild cleaning solution. Clean the fridge before you leave to come home to a fresh kitchen.
Talk to Your Neighbors
Ask your neighbors if they will keep an eye on your property while you’re gone. The neighbor can collect mail and newspapers delivered to your doorstep and spot unusual activity in the neighborhood. Keeping a neighbor informed will give you peace of mind on vacation, knowing someone is looking out for your house. You’ll have a person to contact if you have issues or concerns while you’re gone.
Turn Off the Water to Your Washer and Dishwasher
Sometimes pipes can burst or overflow while you’re away, requiring major clean-up when you return. Turn off the water to your washing machine and dishwasher to ensure this doesn’t happen. You won’t have to worry about a pipe bursting and flooding your home while you’re out of town. Alternatively, cut water access for the entire house using your main shutoff valve, so you won’t have water issues while you’re gone.
Secure Your Windows and Doors to Prepare Your Home for Vacation
Check the windows and doors before leaving for vacation to verify they are closed completely and securely locked. Make sure locks are engaged and working properly so you won’t worry about intruders entering your home. Keep the curtains closed and put lights and the television on timers. If you have smart bulbs, program them to turn on and off during the evening. You’ll create the illusion the house is occupied.
Preparing your property before leaving for vacation will help make sure everything is safe and secure while you’re gone. With just a few simple steps, you’ll be able to enjoy your time away from home without worries.
Porch Light Home Inspections offers home inspection services to customers in the central Oregon area. Contact us to request an appointment.