When you’re planning a trip with the family or friends or exploring a new locale on your own, you are more focused on where you’re going than where you’re leaving. However, you want to ensure that your home is safe and secure while you’re gone and avoid coming home to problems.
Give the Appearance of Being Home
One of the dangers of being away from your home for an extended period is vandalism or robbery. To prevent your home from being a target, don’t let it be known that you’re not home. Have your mail and newspapers stopped or a neighbor come in and pick them up.
Other things you can do:
Prevent Issues
Water and gas leaks can happen anytime, but they can become a bigger problem when not attended to immediately. Shut off your gas and water to reduce the risk of fire and prevent water damage. If you have dogs, board them to prevent them from escaping the yard or biting someone.
Ask someone to stay at your house or at least drop by on a regular basis. Make sure they have a way to reach you if a problem should arise when you’re gone. See if they can vary their times to make it hard for someone to track their schedule.
Unplug appliances and remove other dangers that could cause a fire. You also use less energy when you leave nothing on or plugged in. Check that windows are closed and locked as well as your doors. This not only prevents access by burglars, but it ensures a storm won’t leave water on your floors. While it may be tempting to close your curtains as well, it’s better to leave them as you normally would have them.
Check Your Insurance Policy
It’s always a good idea to make sure you have the right coverage, but it’s especially important to review it before you go on an extended vacation. Make sure you are covered for any potential problems and know what you should do if you must file a claim. It’s a good idea to carry the number with you if you should hear of damage from someone back home. The sooner you start the claim process, the sooner it can be resolved.
If you need to make any changes or to add coverage, now is as good a time as any. Make sure you have the coverage you need for the most likely problems that would occur to your property.
Once you have your home secure and have checked off the items on your list, you can enjoy your vacation worry-free and come home to no issues once the trip is over.
