Tips to Prepare Your Home for Vacation

Getting ready to head out for a vacation? Be sure to take all of the necessary precautions to keep your home safe while you are away. You can avoid the stress of worrying, and make sure you don’t come home to a disaster.

• Tell someone you can trust—family, friends or neighbors—the exact dates you will be gone and ask them to keep an eye on your home. On the other hand, don’t broadcast your plans on social media or to anyone else who doesn’t absolutely have to know of your whereabouts.
• Leave a key to your home with someone you trust, as well as contact information so that you can be reached in an emergency.
• Stop mail and newspaper delivery, or arrange for someone you trust to pick it up every day.
• Set automatic timers for lights inside and outside your home.
• Adjust your thermostat for the expected weather conditions, but not too high or too low.
• Clean out your refrigerator and remove any items that might spoil before you return. Remember to take the garbage out one last time before you go. Ask a neighbor to take out your trash on your neighborhood’s trash day.
• Make arrangements for lawn services if necessary.
• Be sure to lock all doors, windows, garages, sheds and other potential access points.
• Make sure all of the faucets inside the house are completely turned off and there are no drips.
• Make sure all valuables are put away safely and out of sight.
• Consider leaving a car parked in the driveway to make it look like someone is home.
• Make sure your refrigerator and freezer are completely closed.
• Set your security system as you leave, if you have one. Notify the security company that you will be out of town.
• Unplug any appliances that could be damaged from a power surge, or anything that could be a fire hazard. This will also help to save energy while you are away.
• Before you leave, walk through the home and yard to make sure that everything is secure.

If you do find that something has happened to your home while you are away, call us immediately. We can help you file and expedite a home insurance claim.

How do you prepare your home before you travel?