Vacations are meant to be relaxing, so worrying about what’s happening back home shouldn’t be at the top of your mind. Preparing your home before you leave will help give you peace of mind on your trip that your property and belongings are safe. You’re already doing a lot of work preparing and packing, so adding just a few more items to your checklist to prepare your house for vacation will definitely be worth it. Add items like cleaning the house, mowing the yard and asking a neighbor to pick up your mail or check in on your house while you’re gone. Think about letting your credit card companies or bank know you will be traveling as well, so they expect charges from a different city or state. Last but not least, make sure your homeowners insurance is up-to-date, so if there are any problems while you’re out of town, your belongings are covered.
Tips to Prepare Your House for Vacation
You’ll want to think about a few things when preparing your house for vacation, like making sure your house looks lived in while you’re away, avoiding potential emergencies and not paying for unnecessary electricity drains. These tips should help.
- Turn off water. Turn off water valves at sinks, the dishwasher, washing machine and toilets to avoid a plumbing issue or appliance breakdown while you’re gone. Turn the hot water heater to the lowest setting or vacation mode to save energy.
- Unplug unnecessary appliances. Small appliances and electronic devices like microwaves, toasters, space heaters, mobile device chargers, cable boxes or computers can all draw electricity even when not in use. It can save you some money (and reduce the risk of weather-related accidents) if you unplug them when you’re not going to need them.
- Set lights on timers. Having a lamp or two on a timer can give the impression of someone being home during the evening.
- Park in the garage. If you have one and you’re leaving your car at home, parking your car in the garage while you’re gone will keep it safe from the weather and give your home the lived-in look.
- Hold mail. Use the USPS website to hold your mail, if possible for your address. If not, ask a friend or neighbor to pick up your mail while you’re gone.
- Adjust the thermostat. You won’t need to heat or cool your home when there is no one there, so save some money while you’re gone. Turn the thermostat up in the summer and down in the winter, closer to the temperature outside. In the winter, make sure you do keep your home warm enough you won’t have to worry about frozen pipes.
- Clean the kitchen. Throw away perishable foods that may go bad while you’re gone. Clean out the refrigerator to avoid moldy leftovers greeting you when you get back. Take out the trash and wipe down counters to avoid pests and run the garbage disposal to avoid odors.
- Save social media posts. Posting on social media while you’re out of town may alert intruders that your house is empty. It’s exciting to share your wonderful vacation with everyone, but it’s a much better idea to wait until you get home. Try writing the post in the moment to capture your excitement, but save it as a draft and wait to actually share it until you get home.
- Use motion sensor lights. Someone breaking into your house is counting on it being dark, so a motion sensor light will deter them. They don’t want to be seen, so lights are not their friends.
Why Homeowners Insurance is Important When You’re Traveling
No matter how many precautions you take, your home is still vulnerable when you’re on vacation. Thankfully, your homeowners insurance is there to cover your property and belongings should any incidents occur. It is always a good idea to review your policy before you leave to find out what your homeowners insurance will cover while you’re on vacation.
Want to update your homeowners insurance before vacation? Let SelectQuote help.
The last thing anyone wants is to worry about your home and belongings while enjoying your vacation, and with the right homeowners insurance, you won’t. SelectQuote can help you find or update your homeowners insurance policy to provide that much-needed peace of mind. We have experienced licensed insurance agents who can search multiple home insurance carriers in just minutes, comparing coverage and quotes so you can find the policy and price to fit your needs.
