Before You Leave for Vacation… Don’t Forget About Your House!

One of my favorite things to do is travel. Whether it’s a quick weekend getaway or a longer vacation, I always look forward to getting out of town for a few days. I can never seem to turn down a trip to Las Vegas, and as a family, one of our favorite places to visit is Hawaii. But before you can relax on the beach or enjoy that first vacation meal, there’s one thing that’s easy to overlook, making sure your home is ready while you’re away. After all, the goal is to come home with great memories… not a long to-do list.

One of the first things I think about is making sure everything is safe before I lock the front door. Double check that your windows and doors are locked, and if you have a video doorbell or security cameras, make sure they’re charged or plugged in if you’ll be gone for an extended period. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it can give you a lot more peace of mind while you’re away.

I also like to adjust the thermostat before leaving. If it’s winter, I’ll turn the heat down a bit. If it’s summer, I’ll turn the air conditioning off or set it higher than I normally would. There’s no sense paying to keep the house at the perfect temperature when no one’s home to enjoy it. My wallet seems to appreciate that decision even if my thermostat has mixed feelings.

While you’re walking through the house, it’s a good time to unplug small appliances and electronics that don’t need to stay on. A power surge can damage electronics, and it’s one less thing to worry about while you’re gone. I’d also recommend checking that your smoke alarms are working properly and giving your larger appliances a quick glance. You definitely don’t want to come home to discover the refrigerator quit working on day two of your vacation. Nothing says “Welcome Home!” quite like cleaning out a freezer full of melted mystery items… and trust me, that’s not the souvenir anyone wants to bring back.

One tip that I think gets overlooked is social media. As tempting as it is to post that beach photo the minute you arrive, I usually recommend waiting until you get home before sharing vacation pictures. You never really know who’s paying attention or what their intentions are. Sometimes it’s better to enjoy the moment first and post about it later.

If you’re lucky enough to have a great neighbor or friend nearby, ask if they’d be willing to keep an eye on your home while you’re away. They can collect packages, move your garbage and recycling bins to and from the curb, and simply make the house look lived in. It’s a small favor that can make a big difference.

If someone is staying at your home to watch pets or house-sit, leaving a simple instruction sheet can be incredibly helpful. Include your Wi-Fi password, alarm instructions, trash day, emergency contacts, and the location of important things like your electrical panel and water shutoff. If they’re caring for your pets, leave feeding schedules, medications, your veterinarian’s information, and anything else that will make their job easier. Hopefully they’ll never need that information, but if they do, they’ll be glad it’s all in one place.

One thing I also like to do is a quick walk around the outside of the house before leaving. Is the hose put away? Did I remember to close the garage door? Is there anything sitting outside that could blow away if the weather changes? It only takes a minute, but it gives me one last chance to catch something I may have forgotten. And if you have some extra time before leaving, clean up the house a little bit. Coming home to a clean home is a great feeling. Coming home to a messy home makes me feel like I need another vacation…

Vacations are meant to be relaxing, and spending a little time preparing your home beforehand can help keep them that way. A few simple steps before you leave can make it much more likely that you’ll come home to exactly what you left—a safe, comfortable house that’s ready to welcome you back.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I think I need to start planning my next trip to Hawaii. Purely for research purposes, of course. Somebody has to make sure the beaches are still there.