Before you can enjoy the vacation you planned and saved up for, it’s important to get your house ready for it, as well. You don’t want to go home from a week of rest and relaxation only to find that you don’t have any electricity, or worse, furniture.
Here are a few home preparations you can make to ensure that you’ll have a worry-free vacation in Utah.
Pay All Bills in Advance
Your lender may lock you out of your house when you’re late on your mortgage payment, according to legal information website Nolo. The site also stated that a lender may hire a contractor to inspect your house for any signs of abandonment and make a decision to repossess it without contacting the homeowner.
It’s also annoying to go home after a long flight to discover that you don’t have any water for the warm shower you desperately need. Your payments won’t automatically adjust when you’re away from home. Apart from saving for your trip, you should also set aside some cash to pay your bills in advance.
Set Some Security Measures
One of the biggest risks of leaving your home for a few weeks is theft. Larceny-theft made up over 71% of property crimes in the country, according to 2017 data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s “Crime in the U.S.” report. This is followed by burglaries with 18% and motor vehicle theft with 10%. If you’re unsure about your neighborhood, install some extra locks on your house’s points of entry. It also helps to inspect every window to see if their locks are still strong.
Another precaution you can take against unwanted visitors is installing smart lights. You can remotely turn them on and off with a few taps on your smartphone to create a semblance of presence, in case someone is staking out your property. You can even schedule on and off cycles for your bulbs to save energy and show outsiders that someone’s home.
Do Some Last-Minute Maintenance
It sucks to be greeted with the stench of rotten fruit or a rat digging through your trash can as you open your door. Clean out every perishable food you have in your pantry and refrigerator. If there’s too much to eat, give them to a friend or your neighbor, or toss them out. Inspect the furnace installed in your basement to clean out ashes and leftover wood. The washer and dryer are also worth checking to see if you have any laundry that you haven’t hung out to dry yet. You’ll have a guilt-free trip knowing your house is squeaky clean when you come back.
Inspect and Unplug
Before you leave for the airport, do a quick inspection of your home and see if there are unnecessary appliances plugged in. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends unplugging microwaves, coffee makers, entertainment systems, space heaters, and desktop computers when you’re away for a long time. This way, you’ll reduce the risk of fires and sudden spikes in your electricity bill.
Preparing your home for your vacation is a lot of work. You have to spend more money on bills and extra security. Plus, you have to put in a little elbow grease to do some general cleaning. It’ll all be worth it, though, when you don’t have to worry about your house while you’re enjoying the waves or taking pictures of breathtaking views in Salt Lake City. A little effort goes a long way in keeping your home safe.
