Summer Vacation and
Your Home!
You found your perfect home, you bought it, you moved in and
unpacked, and now you're ready for some well deserved R&R. Whether it's just a few days out of town or a
few weeks on a tropical island, there are some things you should do to prepare
your home for your absence.
Preparing to Leave
Clean Out the
Fridge: Throw away anything that
is or will be expired by the time you come back. Wipe down the shelves and
door jams to prevent mold or mildew.
Shut off the
water: If a hose to a dishwasher
or washing machine were to break, you
could come home to a very large mess. So
turn off the water to at least those appliances. You might want to run them and then leave the
doors open to let them dry out so you prevent mold and mildew. Also, getting the laundry and dishes done
means no mess or extra work when you get home.
Prep Your plants
and outdoor space: Make sure all
gutters and downspouts are clear. Overflow could seep under siding and flood
basements. Mow and trim plants and
hedges. Ask a friend or neighbor to help
or pay a neighborhood kid to mow and check on the house.
Leave on some
lights: Make it look like your
home by leaving on some lights or have them on a timer if you don't want to waste money on your electric bill. Maybe
pay the same kid who is mowing to turn on some lights at night. However you do
it, it's important that your home look lived in even when your away. Most criminals are opportunists; they will take
the easy route every time. So don't make
it easy.
Unplug and reset thermostat: Unplug all your appliances; they suck up energy
even when not in use and no one wants their house to catch on fire because of a loose or crossed wire. In addition to that, reset your AC. You don't want to turn it
off completely because it could get very musty, so set your AC to 85 and your
house will stay cool and free of mildew.
Hold mail and
newspapers: A few quick phone
calls and the post office and local delivery boy will hold all your stuff till
you get back. Or you can give that kid a few more dollars and a key and he can
take care of it for you.
Preparing for your return
Food: Make sure you have some non-perishables so
when you get back, your first meal home is hassle free. (things like pop tarts,
coffee, and soup are good to have.
Keep the house
fresh: Plug in an air freshener
oooor you know that kid? Yeah have him open a few windows for a couple of hours
a day.
Change the sheets: There is nothing worse then coming home from
vacation and having to do work. Changing
your sheets and maybe putting a dryer sheet in the blankets will insure a great
night's sleep on your return home.
Tidy Up: Sweep, Vacuum, Wipe down counters and any
other stuff you know you won't want to do when you come home.
Happy vacation and don't forget to tip your neighborhood kid: he worked hard while you were gone!!
