Summer break is in full swing and many families are preparing to hit the road for a week or more on summer vacation. Whether you’re heading to the beach or to your favorite theme park as a family, it is important to ensure your home is ready for you to be gone for an extended period of time. We’ve put together a few tips to help you prepare your home for your summer adventures.
Prepare Your Lawn Ahead of Time
Before you set out on your adventure, consider cutting your lawn so that it is manicured while you are away. An unkept lawn might be a sign to outsiders that no one is home. Having your lawn freshly trimmed will appear like someone is home.
Set Your Thermostat to a Warmer Temperature
If you don’t have a smart thermostat, and are leaving your home completely vacant (even down to fido), set your home’s thermostat to a higher temperature than you would typically keep it. This will help you save money in the long-run, but, keeping the air conditioning on in general will help keep your home from getting too humid.
Set up Sprinkler Systems to Keep Plants Watered
During the hot summer months, it’s almost vital to ensure you’re watering your outdoor plants each day, especially if you’re in a dry season. Plan to set up an automatic watering system to ensure your garden is getting a healthy amount of water each day, or, ask a neighbor to come over and water your plants while you are away.
Place a Hold on Mail Service
Stop by your local post office and ask that they place a temporary hold on delivering your mail so that your mail isn’t piling up in your mailbox, especially if you plan to be gone for over a week.
Discard Perishable Items that Will Expire
Before you set out on your adventure, do a sweep through your refrigerator and dispose of any perishables that will expire while you are out of town. From there, be sure to empty your trashcan before you leave so that you’re not leaving food inside to rot and smell while you are away.
Leave Lights On or Invest in a Smart Home Device
Turn on lights throughout your home that you typically would have on while you are home. Lights in the kitchen and living spaces will make it appear from the outside as though someone is there. If you would prefer, invest in a smart home device that will turn lights on for you at a set time.
Inform Your Neighbors of Your Plans
Reach out to a trusted neighbor or friend and inform them of your plans. Ask them to keep an eye on your home, and make sure to leave a contact phone number where they may be able to get in touch with you should they need to.