When you leave the home for a vacation, there is plenty for you to prepare in order to ensure that your home is going to be in good shape in your absence. There are all kinds of threats to the home when there is nobody there for a long period of time. Aside from the obvious security threats, the homes operates in a different way when nobody is inside it and all manner of maintenance problems could occur. There are further issues which could present themselves and for these reasons it is important that you know what to check before you go off on vacation.

Make It Looked Lived In

A home that clearly isn’t lived in is a prime target for any smart thief and you ought to take measures to give the impression that there are people home. Don’t park your car outside for instance, staying in the same spot could indicate an absence, instead park in the garage. Set timers for your lights inside the house to switch on and off at certain times. If you are heading away for a fortnight or more, consider paying someone to cut your lawn after the first week, it is these small touches that can give the impression that someone is home.

Pipes and Wires

Make sure that your water and your electricity are turned off before you leave the house. Most water heaters have a vacation mode which you can set for the duration of your tie away and the you should try to disconnect all appliances using water such as dishwashers and washing machines. Switching all of these supplies off will greatly minimize any risk of something going wrong with them in your absence.

Pet Care

If you own  a pet then you will need to make the necessary arrangements for your pet to be cared for. If you have friends or family who are willing to do so then ensure that you have spoken to them in advance so that they have time to prepare. If you have nobody to look after your pet then you can search for pet hotels or veteran associations who offer a care service.

Clean

A clean home is a wonderful thing to return to after a vacation but aside from this, a clean home will keep away insects and pests. If you leave food lying around or dirty areas of the home, you are sure to attract animals into your home. If you can, try to pencil in the day before you go on vacation to really give the house a good tidy.

Subscriptions

Finally, ensure that you have canceled any subscriptions which you may have such as a daily newspaper or a weekly magazine. A simple phone call is all that it will take to notify that you are going to be on vacation.

And there you have it, a preparation checklist in order to make sure that your home is going to be safe and sound whilst you are enjoying yourself.