Heading Out? 20 Must-Do Steps to Prepare Your Home Before Vacation
I like to travel, but I do not like to pay for things I am not using. I also hate coming home to a messy house. When we go on vacation, I check my list of things to do before a trip.
In this article, I share my best tips for getting your home ready for vacation. I wrote this after reading my list while preparing for a 2,000-mile road trip.
This article will not cover what to pack. You know how to do that. I cover all the other steps to take before you leave for vacation. Let’s start smart travel prep!
Food Management
Plan your food ahead of a trip to cut food waste and stop pests like ants or mice. Begin with your fridge. Pull out all food that spoils fast and divide it into two piles: food to eat and food to toss.
Then look at your pantry. Collect all open bags of dry items like seeds, nuts, crackers, and chips. If you can’t bring them, put them in tight sealed containers. This cuts food waste and keeps pests away from easy food.
Pro Tip: Skip costly airport or gas station snacks. Pack food from home. I pack fruits, crackers, and homemade trail mix for trips. They work well as travel snacks and save cash on the go.
Bills and Payments
Taking care of your financial obligations before you leave ensures a worry-free vacation. Start by paying all necessary bills that will come due during your trip. This includes utilities, credit card payments, and any other regular expenses.
If you haven’t already, consider setting up automatic payments for your recurring bills. This system works wonders for peace of mind, not just when you’re traveling but all year round.
I’ve found that automating our bill payments has eliminated the stress of remembering due dates and freed up mental space for more enjoyable things.
Important Documents
Keeping key documents safe is a key part of your travel prep. Collect all vital papers like birth certificates, social security cards, and other private info.
Put them in a safe spot such as a home safe or bank safety deposit box. This keeps them safe from theft and damage from fire or floods.
Also, get all travel documents set. This means passports, visas, tickets, and needed vaccination records.
I save a digital copy of these in secure cloud storage as backup. It’s smart to over-prepare on vital papers.
Pet Care
If you have furry, feathered, or scaly family members, arranging for their care is a top priority. For dogs and cats, you have several options. You might hire a pet sitter to come to your home daily, which allows your pets to stay in familiar surroundings.
Alternatively, you could board them at a reputable kennel. For smaller pets like fish or hamsters, a reliable friend or neighbor might be able to stop by for daily feeding and care.
Whichever option you choose, make sure to leave detailed instructions about feeding schedules, medication needs, and any special care requirements. Don’t forget to provide your vet’s contact information in case of emergencies.
Lawn and Plant Care
Don’t let your garden turn into a jungle while you’re away. Mow your lawn right before you leave so it doesn’t look overgrown upon your return. This not only keeps your property looking tidy but also discourages potential intruders who might target homes that appear unattended.
For your indoor and outdoor plants, give them a good watering before you go. If you’ll be away for more than a week, consider asking a friend or neighbor to water them.
Communication
Tell a trusted neighbor or family member about your travel plans. This is a key safety step. Share your trip details and contact info with them.
Someone will know your location and how to contact you if an emergency happens at home. Give them a spare key if you feel okay with that. Or tell them where to find one if needed.
Share any alarm codes or home instructions too. If you have a security system, let the monitoring company know your travel dates. This added contact can help a lot if problems come up while you are gone.
Final Checks
Before you head out the door, it’s crucial to do one final walkthrough of your home. This last check helps catch any overlooked details and gives you extra peace of mind. Start at the top floor of your house and work your way down, carefully going through each room.
Make sure all windows are closed and locked securely. Unplug or turn off all electrical appliances at the wall. Check for any items you may have forgotten to pack. In the kitchen, double-check that the oven and stove are turned off and ensure no faucets are leaking.
This thorough inspection often reveals small things you might have missed, like a curling iron left plugged in or a half-empty water glass on a windowsill.
Making a List
The first step in my pre-travel routine is creating a comprehensive checklist. This might seem basic, but it’s a game-changer. I keep a running list that I update before each trip. It includes all the tasks we’ll cover in this article, plus any specific items for our family.
For example, I always add a reminder to double-check that my kids’ activity bags are packed, especially for family road trips. I can’t stress enough how important it is to review and update this list regularly.
Temperature Control
Let’s start with home maintenance. Adjusting your home’s temperature before you leave is a crucial step in your pre-travel routine. Start by lowering the temperature on your water heater. Most water heaters have a “vacation” setting. If it doesn’t just lower it all the way down. There is no reason to heat water while you are away.
This simple action can save you money on your utility bill while you’re away.
For your home’s climate control, set your air conditioner or heating system to an energy-efficient level. In summer, I bump our AC up a few degrees higher than usual, while in winter, I lower the heat.
We turn our AC and furnace off when we leave on trips. Our thermostat can be controlled from our smart phones. So we just turn them back on before we head home. That way we walk into a comfortable home.
Appliance and Utility Management
Next, take a walk through your home and unplug unnecessary electronics and appliances. This includes items like TVs, computers, toasters, and coffee makers. Unplugging these devices not only saves power but also protects them from power surges.
Also, turn off all ceiling fans and lights throughout the house, except for a few lights to make it look like someone is home. This small step can prevent potential damage and reduce your energy consumption.
I wrote all about “killing energy vampires” in our article on 15 Mostly Easy Ways To Lower Your Monthly Electric Bill (With Video)
Water and Plumbing
Pay close attention to your home’s water system. Conduct a thorough check for any existing leaks or drips. Look under sinks, around toilets, and near your water heater. If you spot any issues, it’s best to address them before you leave.
For longer trips, consider shutting off the main water supply to your home. This extra precaution can prevent major flooding if a pipe bursts while you’re away.
It might seem excessive, but as a landlord for more than two decades, I’ve dealt with enough plumbing issues to know it’s worth the peace of mind.
Home Security
Start by checking all doors and windows. Make sure they are locked tight. Check less obvious spots like garage doors or basement windows too.
Next, set timers on your lights. These make it look like someone is home. This can stop intruders. I set timers in the living room and two bedrooms to copy our usual night routine.
Tell a trusted neighbor or friend about your trip. Ask them to watch your house and pick up any packages. If your area has a watch group, let them know you will be gone.
If you have an alarm system, arm it before you go. Check that all sensors work right. Make sure your monitoring service has your latest contact info.
Mail and Deliveries
Piles of mail and uncollected packages are clear signs of an empty house. You can easily put your mail on hold through the postal service’s website. This convenient service keeps your mail safe at the post office until you return.
For those living elsewhere, ask a friend or neighbor to collect your mail regularly. Don’t forget about any regular deliveries you might receive. Pause your newspaper subscription and any recurring deliveries like meal kits or subscription boxes.
If you’re expecting any important packages during your vacation, consider having them delivered to a trusted friend’s address instead.
Also check your Amazon deliveries, especially your Subscribe And Save subscriptions. Put any on hold that won’t arrive in time.
These simple steps help maintain the appearance of someone’s home and prevent valuable items sitting unattended on your doorstep.
If you like what you are reading, then click like and subscribe to my newsletter. We share tips to waste less time and money.
Cleaning the House
A clean house gives a great gift to your future self. Before you leave, spend time to clean up well. Start with the dishes, wash all of them and put them away. This stops bad smells and pest issues here.
Next, empty all the trash and put in new bags. Clean the fridge too, and throw out food that could go bad. Vacuum or sweep every floor, and wipe the bathrooms fast.
Last, wash all the laundry. You love coming home to clean clothes, not a big pile of dirty ones. These tasks take work, but you will thank yourself when you get back to a clean home.
Bon Voyage!
As we end this guide to get your home ready while you are gone, keep in mind that each step you take to clean, lock up, and sort things builds your calm state of mind.
This list may look long, but it gets easy with time. Change it to match your own needs and setup. The point is to build a plan that fits you and your family.
With your home safe and all set, you can relax and have fun on your trip. So go on, create those memories, snap those pictures, and savor every part of your getaway!
If you like what you just read, then subscribe to my newsletter.
