Here are a few tips to help you protect your home while you're away.
Step 1: Find Someone To Check In
The first and most important thing is to have someone you know and trust check your home regularly. Start looking for this person as soon as your travel is scheduled. This isn’t something to scramble for at the last minute.
Make sure the home is checked at least once every few days. If the person can stay in your house, even better!
Have your mail/newspapers collected (a neighbor can do this too if your check in person can’t make it every day)
Arrange checks for leaks or other maintenance issues.
Bring a gift for the caretaker! Checking in on a property is a lot of work; they will appreciate the thanks.
Step 2: Travel-Proof Your Home
Go down this list before you leave.
- Connect a few lights to a timer and set them to go on every day after dark. This will keep your house from being totally dark – a sure giveaway that no one is home.
- Don’t close all your blinds and shutters, unless this is something you normally do.
- Don't post your out of town status on social media.
- As you’re walking out of the house, follow these steps to cover your last-minute safety needs.
- Don't turn the heat down below 55 degrees. Never turn the heat completely off during the winter; if the temperature drops, you risk frozen pipes.
- Lock the house. That includes pet doors, garage doors, and windows that might normally be left open.
- Throw away any perishables if you’re going to be gone more than 3 days or so. You don’t want to come home to a rotting mess in the fridge!
--Content used in this post was originally published by Mammoth Restoration & Construction and is used with their permission.