Honestly, nothing ruins the excitement of an awesome trip like worrying about what you might come home to. We’ve all felt that twinge in our gut when we wonder, Did I lock the back door? Did I leave food out for the ants to feast on? If you’ve ever come home to a stinky kitchen or a We’re-Not-Home-But-Please-Don’t-Rob-Us vibe, you know exactly what I mean.
So, if you’re gearing up for a long adventure—whether it’s two weeks in Italy or a summer road trip—here’s a simple, very-human guide to making sure your place is as ready as you are.
Walk Through and Make That List
Grab your phone or a sticky note (I’m old school—I still use a pad for this one), and do a slow lap around your house. Glance at all the windows and doors. Are they locked? Sometimes it’s the little things we forget—like the downstairs window you cracked last month for “fresh air” and accidentally left open ever since. Trust me, you don’t want to remember that just as your plane is taking off.
If you have a yard or porch, check for stuff that could fly away or get destroyed by wind and weather, too. Stash the mail, grab any packages, and tell your neighbor you’ll be gone. They’ll probably notice if someone weird is snooping around.
The Kitchen—Oh, the Kitchen
Cleaning out the fridge needs to be at the very top of your list. Even if you hate wasting food, I promise the pain of tossing half a tub of yogurt now is nothing compared to coming home to a science experiment. Take the trash out, run your dishwasher (so you’re not greeted by old lasagna smells), and wipe the counters. Leave cabinet doors open if you’re paranoid about mice, but honestly, if you don’t usually have problems, this might be overkill.
One time, I came back from a trip in July and found a loaf of bread…let’s just say it looked a lot more blue than I remembered. Toss it before you go.
Don’t Make Your House Scream “Nobody’s Home”
Set a couple lamps on timers if you can. These don’t need to look fancy, just enough to make it seem like you’re there. And stop your mail or have a friend grab it every couple days. Nothing says “easy target” like an overflowing mailbox and ten pizza flyers on the porch. If someone you trust can water your plants or feed your fish, all the better.
A Quick Word on Water, Power, and Septic Stuff
Here’s what I tell everyone: if you’re going to be gone more than a week, think about shutting off your water main. It’s not as hard as it sounds, and it seriously lowers the risk of those horror-movie leaks. And if your place runs on a septic system, this is the perfect time to look into expert septic services. A little check-up now beats a disaster later.
Also, unplug what you can—like the coffee maker and TVs. Less chance of that electrical fire you see in all those insurance ads. Plus, you’ll save on your utility bill, which is always nice.
Final Touches and Peace of Mind
Water your plants, adjust your thermostat to a money-saving temperature (I usually bump it up in summer, down in winter), and snap a photo of your locked front door if you’re feeling extra anxious—it sounds silly, but it calms the “did I lock it?” panic in the airport.
Leaving home for a long time doesn’t have to be stressful. Just a bit of prep, and you’ll come home to a space as chill as you are after vacation. Safe travels and happy packing!
How to Prep Your House Before Leaving for That Long-Awaited Vacation
Honestly, nothing ruins the excitement of an awesome trip like worrying about what you might come home to. We’ve all felt that twinge in our gut when we wonder, Did I lock the back door? Did I leave food out for the ants to feast on? If you’ve ever come home to a stinky kitchen or a We’re-Not-Home-But-Please-Don’t-Rob-Us vibe, you know exactly what I mean.
So, if you’re gearing up for a long adventure—whether it’s two weeks in Italy or a summer road trip—here’s a simple, very-human guide to making sure your place is as ready as you are.
Walk Through and Make That List
Grab your phone or a sticky note (I’m old school—I still use a pad for this one), and do a slow lap around your house. Glance at all the windows and doors. Are they locked? Sometimes it’s the little things we forget—like the downstairs window you cracked last month for “fresh air” and accidentally left open ever since. Trust me, you don’t want to remember that just as your plane is taking off.
If you have a yard or porch, check for stuff that could fly away or get destroyed by wind and weather, too. Stash the mail, grab any packages, and tell your neighbor you’ll be gone. They’ll probably notice if someone weird is snooping around.
The Kitchen—Oh, the Kitchen
Cleaning out the fridge needs to be at the very top of your list. Even if you hate wasting food, I promise the pain of tossing half a tub of yogurt now is nothing compared to coming home to a science experiment. Take the trash out, run your dishwasher (so you’re not greeted by old lasagna smells), and wipe the counters. Leave cabinet doors open if you’re paranoid about mice, but honestly, if you don’t usually have problems, this might be overkill.
One time, I came back from a trip in July and found a loaf of bread…let’s just say it looked a lot more blue than I remembered. Toss it before you go.
Don’t Make Your House Scream “Nobody’s Home”
Set a couple lamps on timers if you can. These don’t need to look fancy, just enough to make it seem like you’re there. And stop your mail or have a friend grab it every couple days. Nothing says “easy target” like an overflowing mailbox and ten pizza flyers on the porch. If someone you trust can water your plants or feed your fish, all the better.
A Quick Word on Water, Power, and Septic Stuff
Here’s what I tell everyone: if you’re going to be gone more than a week, think about shutting off your water main. It’s not as hard as it sounds, and it seriously lowers the risk of those horror-movie leaks. And if your place runs on a septic system, this is the perfect time to look into expert septic services. A little check-up now beats a disaster later.
Also, unplug what you can—like the coffee maker and TVs. Less chance of that electrical fire you see in all those insurance ads. Plus, you’ll save on your utility bill, which is always nice.
Final Touches and Peace of Mind
Water your plants, adjust your thermostat to a money-saving temperature (I usually bump it up in summer, down in winter), and snap a photo of your locked front door if you’re feeling extra anxious—it sounds silly, but it calms the “did I lock it?” panic in the airport.
Leaving home for a long time doesn’t have to be stressful. Just a bit of prep, and you’ll come home to a space as chill as you are after vacation. Safe travels and happy packing!
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