Anna Maria Richards
Finally — vacation has arrived! In the rush to get everything planned, packed, and ready to go, you can easily forget about preparing your home for your absence. A household problem is the last thing you want to worry about while on vacation. By taking a few simple steps, you can ensure that your home will be waiting for your return. Consider the following list of four things you can do at home before leaving for vacation.
Clean Before You Leave
Nothing snaps you out of vacation mode quicker than returning home to a dirty house. While you may not need to do a deep clean before you leave, taking care of small tasks will make coming home much less stressful.
Start by cleaning out the refrigerator and removing anything that might expire while you’re away. Scrub the sinks, tubs, and toilets, then sweep and vacuum your floors. Throw away any fruits, vegetables, or other foods on the counter. Don’t forget to take out the trash, too.
Get Your HVAC System Serviced
Take care of your HVAC system before you leave. Many people know to adjust their home thermostats to save energy while they are away from home. However, you can take a few steps, such as scheduling maintenance with an HVAC system contractor such as Custom/Design Heating and Air Conditioning, to prepare the system for your vacation.
First, check your HVAC system’s air filter and install a fresh, clean filter. This filter change will help prevent the system from possibly clogging up with dirt and debris while you’re away. Secondly, make sure you adjust the thermostat by a few degrees so that you don’t waste money heating or cooling an empty house.
You could also consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat. Many smart thermostats include a vacation mode which enables you to adjust the temperature remotely and program it to adjust the temperature to a comfortable level before you get home. This way, you won’t have to come home to an overly warm or cold home.
Set Vacation Mode on Your Smart Devices
Speaking of smart devices, timers or smart plugs are an easy way to add security to your home while you are away. These devices allow you to schedule certain lights to turn on and off at specific times to help keep your home safe. Similar to smart thermostats, many other smart devices can be set on vacation mode as well. Not only could you have lights on a schedule, but you could also program the television to turn on and off, too.
Ask a Friend for Help Watching Your Home
Asking a friend or neighbor to keep an eye on your home while you’re away can help ease your mind. Give the individual a key so that he or she can check on the place and take care of tasks such as bringing in the mail and watering your plants. Don’t forget to leave your contact information and itinerary in case of emergencies, too.
When it comes to preparing your home for vacation, these simple steps can go a long way toward giving you peace of mind in knowing that your home will be exactly as you left it when you return.
