Lawn, mail, and faucet: how to prepare your house before vacation

Before you leave, it's worth checking off all the things that might prevent you from having a relaxing vacation. To enjoy your favorite cities without stress, you need to prepare in advance.

Create a checklist of things to do at home before you leave. The hardest part is taking the first step, writes entrepreneur.

What you need to prepare before your vacation

1. Find someone to take care of your home.

When you are on vacation, you stop following your usual routine. Your home will be fine if someone takes care of your pets, plants, and checks the mail regularly for you. If you are going away for a long time, it is better to hire some teenager who can mow the lawn and take care of your garden. Another option is to ask your friends for help. But don't forget to thank them later for their kindness.

2. Take a look around the house

Make a checklist of everything you need to see before you leave. Make sure that the faucets are not leaking, the window panes are not damaged, and the roof tiles are not falling through. Don't forget the locks on the doors and windows. If you have an alarm system or security camera set up, double-check to make sure everything is working properly.

3. Leave a list of emergency contacts

This tip will help you out a lot if a pipe bursts in your absence, or, say, the basement floods. You should leave an emergency contact person who can handle everything until you return. In addition, this person can monitor the damage and communicate with the right people to fix things until you return. Write down all the contacts you may need and put them in a prominent place in town.

4. Unplug appliances

Before you leave, you should unplug as many of these appliances as possible. This is much safer and less expensive than fire damage. In addition, your electricity bill will not be exaggerated. Unplugged appliances such as microwaves and washing machines will not suck up unnecessary energy that you will have to pay for.

5. Make advance payments

Set up automatic payments for all your regular bills, rent, or mortgage. Instead of sending a check, the required amount is transferred from your account on the same day of each month. If this is not possible, ask someone in your trusted circle to make the transaction for you.

6. Put things in order

It's really nice to come back to a house that doesn't need to be cleaned. You'll be glad when you get home and don't have to spend another day mopping floors and so on.

Fold the laundry, clean up, and run the dishwasher one last time before you leave. Take out the trash and put away toys. Coming home with a full hamper and sink is not the ideal way to welcome you home.