It’s that time of the year, planning and taking that family vacation. Whether you are leaving for a weekend or a month there are things you should do to help insure your home will be safe while you are away and awaiting your return without problem for you to solve.
- Cancel newspaper
- Forward or stop mail delivery
- Find a friend to care for your yard—mow, water, chlorinate the pool, etc.
- Find a friend to care for the house – water plants, etc.
- Find a friends to care for pets
- Give a key to friends who will need to get into the house
- Put a few lights on timers
- Put a radio or television on a timer
- Forward the phone or get an answering machine that allow you to check messages from out of town
- Leave emergency phone numbers with a neighbor and the friends who are caring for the house and yard
- Lock away valuables or place in a safety deposit box
- Take copies of valuable papers such as deeds, wills and insurance with you. Lock up originals.
- If you may travel across the border take family birth certificates and photo IDs.
- Turn off or turn down air conditioner
- Turn off or turn down water heater
- Turn off water to house
- Turn off gas to the house…make sure to have the utility company restart when you get home (only if you’ll be gone more than a month or you are leaving during hurricane or tornado season)
- Empty all garbage and trash cans.
- Empty refrigerator and freezer of items which will spoil
- Turn up refrigerator or unplug and secure door to open position if you will be gone for more than a month
- Put all landscaping sprinklers on battery powdered timers
- Empty bird bath and water features, they are a great breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Move outdoor furniture, lawn ornaments and toys into the garage if you live in hurricane or tornado country or if there is the chance of a flood.
- Leave house clean so you won’t have old clutter and dirt to come home to
- Close damper on fireplace
- Set out mouse traps and ant traps
- Make sure toilets are not left running
- If leaving for more than a month turn off the water to the toilet and flush the toilet. This will reduce bacteria and staining while you are away
- Make sure dishwasher, washer and dryer are all turned off and the doors left open.
- Close all blinds and shutters so a prowler can’t see in. You can adjust them so the lights on timers can be seen, leaving the impression someone is at home.
- Double check that doors and windows are locked
Now, hop in the car and have a great trip!
Check in with Carolyn on her facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TotallyReady
Jean SaintongeJune 7, 2015
... and in winter time or when the temperature goes below zero, shut the main water valve, flush all the toilets, open all faucets (don't forget the shower !), drain all pipes, and pour plumbing anti-freeze where ever there is an elbow and in the toilet bowls !