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After months of planning, the final day has finally arrived. You are ready to travel to your dream destination. However, some things still make you uneasy. Who will look after your house while you are away? Is your security system in check? Who will collect any mail? Don't worry. You are not the only person who gets shivers every time they travel for weeks or months. The good thing is that with the following basic to-do list, you can travel with the peace of mind that your house is safe and secured.
Empty and Clean Your Refrigerator
If you plan on spending more than a month on the road, it is highly advisable to ensure that your refrigerator is clean and empty. Additionally, if you do not plan to throw away food products, it is advisable to freeze them. However, this would not be highly recommendable, considering there will be no one to keep an eye on your freezer. You may not want to come back home only to be greeted by a fridge full of rotten foods.
Put Timers on Your Lights and Keep Your Alarm Armed
When traveling for days or months, you may opt to ask your neighbor to keep an eye on the property. Additionally, you might call a relative and ask them to stay at your place when you are away. However, even though this may be an easy and secure way to keep your house safe, it may be inconvenient for other people. The good thing is that you can avoid all of this by installing smart devices in your house.
Nowadays, thanks to advanced technology, you can time your ceiling flush mount lights to switch themselves on and off even when you are not around. Additionally, you can arm your alarm such that when an intruder comes close to your house, the alarm is triggered, thus alerting you. This is an easy way to prevent or minimize break-ins without involving other people.
Do Your Laundry
While you may be busy packing your favorite clothes for your vacation, you may forget about the last batch of clothes you wore last week. Always ensure that you have cleaned all your clothes and packed them accordingly in your drawers or suitcases. It wouldn't be appealing to report back home after cruising the Nile during your vacation only to start thinking about the clothes you left in your laundry basket a month ago.
Ensure Your Windows and Doors Are Closed and Locked
Most of the time, people forget to lock windows and doors in rooms they rarely use. Unfortunately, if this is your habit, you are likely to leave the same doors and windows wide open when you leave for your vacation. As a rule of thumb, always go room after room and ensure that your windows and doors are locked. This will not only deter thieves, but it will keep away wild animals or birds from making your house a temporary shelter.
Clean Your House
Leaving your house sparkling clean is a must-do for anyone going for a vacation. This can be based on the fact that if you leave your house unkempt, you will likely encourage rodents to reside in your house when you are away. One important thing you must do when cleaning your house is to ensure that you have disposed of any garbage you may have in your house.
Put a Halt to Mail and Newspaper Deliveries
Suppose you plan to travel for weeks and months. In that case, it is a good idea to inform your delivery guys to halt delivering magazines, advertising papers, and parcels to your address for a limited period. This is vital because when you fail to inform them, uncollected parcels will accumulate in your mailbox, which will be an easy way to advertise your absence. On the other hand, if you do not want to miss out on vital mails, you can forward them to your friends or relatives in another city or state.
Unplug Unused Electronic Devices
While you are likely to leave your fridge on during your vacation, it is highly advisable to unplug any electronic devices that won't be in use when you are away from home. For example, your TV set and other entertainment appliances will not be in use for the time you will be away. Therefore, ensure that you have unplugged them from their source of power. Likewise, other electronics such as heaters, chargers, and cookers should all be disconnected from power. This will not only save you money on bills but will also reduce instances of fire outbreaks caused by a power surge.
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