How to Prep Your House for a Long Vacation?

Preparing for a vacation is both joyous and annoying. While the trip may be a success, sometimes you may come home and see a disaster. That’s why you always have to thoroughly prepare your home before leaving it for a longer period of time. 

Creating a list of tasks you need to complete before leaving is Traveling 101. It is the single most important step you have to take. However, sometimes you may forget to write something down – and that’s why we’ve prepared a simple traveling guide. Here, you will find everything you need to know about prepping your house for a long vacation so you don’t have to worry about anything and can simply enjoy your trip. Read on.

Clean the House 

The first step of preparing your home for a long vacation is cleaning it thoroughly. You should start with easy things like wiping the dust from lamps and fans and vacuuming the floors. If you discover floor damage, you might consider replacing flooring in your home, in which case you can check out Integra Direct.

Then, you have to wash the dishes, clean the kitchen, and wipe off the bathroom. Make sure you don’t forget about your backyard as well. Finally, organize all your important documents and take out the trash.

Check and Fix the Damage

Before heading off on vacation, make sure to fix all the damage in the house – otherwise, you may encounter an unpleasant situation after coming. This means that you need to check all the pipes and faucets for leaking, clean the gutters, check the air vents, and clean the garbage disposal. 

You should also check your garage door – if there’s any problem, don’t hesitate to call your local repair company (for example, garage door service & repair in Cedarburg or in your area). Otherwise, your garage door may accidentally open by itself when you’re away – or get stuck when you’re back. 

Prep Your Doors and Windows

When prepping your house for a long vacation, pay attention to your doors and windows. Make sure there are good locks on the doors that can stop intruders. Also, put sensors at all the entering points – for example, in front of the windows. This may seem like an unnecessary step, but it can keep your house safe when you’re away.

Prepare Your Garden 

Don’t forget about cleaning your garden and ensuring that no pests or animals invade it. Remove dead leaves to prevent them from piling up and put the potted plants in the house so the weather doesn’t damage them. You may also consider pouring some repellent around the perimeter of your property or installing fencing to make sure that your bushes and soil stay intact.

Make Sure You Have a Handyman Contact Information 

If something goes wrong while you are away from home, it is always good to have a backup plan. It may be helpful to either keep your handyman’s contact information inside the house or give their number to your neighbors. This way, if something happens, your home will be taken care of quickly and efficiently. 

Inform Your Neighbors About Your Leaving Date 

It is always a good idea to inform your neighbors about your vacation so that they can keep an eye on your property while you are away. If something happens, they will call the police or your handyman right away – and inform you about the situation. If you are friends with your neighbors, you can ask them to take care of everything when you’re away – so in case of an emergency, you won’t have to come home quickly. 

Leave an In-Depth Note for the Housekeeper 

If you have a housekeeper, it can be helpful to leave them a detailed note. Make sure to put all the important information in it: tasks to do, emergency numbers, and your contact information. This way, not only will you come home to a clean house, but you also won’t have to worry about any potential issues. 

Turn on the Alarm System and Surveillance Cameras

Another important step you should never skip is turning on the alarm system and surveillance cameras. It may seem like a small thing, but if your home gets broken into, this will save both your valuables and your neighbors from unexpected surprises. Moreover, if someone does break into the house, you will be able to recognize them thanks to video surveillance.

People often forget about turning their alarm system on before leaving – to avoid that, write this step down on a post-it note and put it on your door. 

Lock All Windows and Doors 

This should be the last step of preparing your house for a long vacation. It is essential to lock all the windows and doors before leaving your home to prevent unwanted visitors from entering your property. Make sure everything is closed tightly so that animals and insects don’t get inside while you are away.

Don’t forget about the garage door – it should be properly locked. If you have an automatic garage door opener, make sure to turn it off before leaving the house.

A Final Note 

Preparing your house for a long vacation is not a difficult task – however, it can be pretty tedious. You need to do everything to ensure that nothing happens to your property while you’re away: cleaning, fixing the damage, informing your neighbors and/or housekeeper, installing and turning on the alarm system and CCTV, locking everything properly, and so on.

In such a rush, it’s only natural if you forget something. To avoid that, it can be helpful to print out the checklist (for example, this article) and put some post-its on the doors. This way, even if your memory fails you, you still will be able to take care of everything. 

While it can be tempting to omit some of the tasks on your list, do them anyway. Remember that your vacation should be as enjoyable as possible – and it definitely won’t be if your neighbors call to inform you about an emergency on your property.