Vacation time is almost here - are you ready?! Good planning to make sure your home is in good shape when you depart makes for a happier return...
Clean bed sheets before you leave so that when you arrive home from your vacation, you'll be happy you did! Nothing like collapsing into crisp, clean sheets after a long day of travel... and it just takes a few minutes before you leave.
Take the trash out – Nothing is worse than arriving home to realize you forgot to take out the garbage! Yuck, what's that smell?!
Empty the fridge of any perishables that you don't want to come home to after being away, especially items such as milk and stinky cheese. They both have a pretty ugly smell after a short period of time!
Lock your windows – It’s easy to remember to lock the doors, but be sure all windows are shut tightly and locked.
Be sure someone has a key – find a trusted family member or neighbor and ensure that they have a way in to your home in case of an emergency. You never know when it might come in handy.
Email yourself copies of your credit cards, ID and travel documents to a web-based email account. Just in case something happens while you are traveling (did you say pickpockets?) you can easily access all your important information and details wherever you can get online. Remember to photocopy both sides of your credit cards and insurance docs.
Adjust the thermostat – Be sure to set the air conditioning or heat to an appropriate level to save on energy costs while you are away. Also, you might consider turning down the hot water heater temp or maybe even shutting the water off. You will be very glad you did when you receive next month’s utility bills!
Invest in a timer – An inexpensive timer unit allows you to program your lights for security purposes (and energy conservation). Great to deter any potential intruders!
Unplug any appliances that you can while you are gone (such as radios, coffee maker, office printer and the like.) They can be a fire hazard as well as using precious energy while you are thousands of miles away on vacation.
By following these suggestions, you can make sure that your next vacation isn't ruined by a nasty surprise lurking inside your front door....It's depressing enough having to return to reality without finding a stinky trash can!