Ahhhh, travel! That gives you the best opportunity to unwind, leave the stress, and be carefree and merry. While you are occupied by daydreams and your preparations for the trip, you should not get yourself sidetracked by other important things — which usually include home-related concerns.
Your home and some related concerns should also be taken care of before you leave. That will make sure that your homecoming will also be smooth. If you are creating a checklist, here are a couple of things that you may want to take note of:
Deal with home fixes
You do not want to leave your home in a mess, so deal with some minor problems right away. For one, buy new corrugated roofing sheets if you worry that the house will be flooded when it rains because there is a hole in your old roof. If you have plumbing concerns, such as leaks, have them repaired immediately; you do not want to come home to a flooded or humid space. You may also want to have your lawn trimmed and your locks and windows fixed.
Pay all your bills
The last thing that you will want to remember while you are enjoying your cruise somewhere in the Pacific is your unpaid bills. So before you leave home, make sure that your utility and credit card dues are all settled. While you are at it, you may want to tell your credit card company that you are going to use your card in another country. That will keep them from assuming that your card is stolen.
Turn everything off
That is a given, but some people still forgo this, especially if they will be away for a day or two. It is for your safety, so you need to unplug all the electronics in your house. Of course, do not forget turning all the water supply to your washers, ice-makers, toilets, and dishwashers.
Find a pet sitter
Can’t bring your furry friend with you? Don’t be anxious, and start looking for a pet sitter. If possible, you can leave your baby at a friend’s house or your relatives. In case this is not possible, you can look for a pet hotel and make the necessary arrangements with them.
Check your security measures
When you are hiding a spare key, get it from where you are hiding it. Make sure that your security cameras and alarms are working. You may also install motion-activated or time-based lights to keep your area bright during nighttime.
Ask someone to check on your home
This step should be easy if you are a friendly neighbour. If possible, ask the family next door to check on your home now and then. Leave them your contact details, so they can notify you in case something happens. A family member who leaves nearby may also drop by your home to check it.
Now, go and fly!
Now that you have cleaned your home appropriately and set up the necessary measures, you can already leave without worrying. Fly and enjoy your vacation!