Prepare Your Home for Vacation

Prepare Your Home for Vacation

by | Mar 12, 2024 | Travel

In addition to packing and making travel arrangements, preparing your home is also an important part of travel. Preparing your house for an extended vacation is crucial to ensure its security, safety, and proper maintenance while you’re away. Here is a checklist to help you prepare:

Secure Doors and Windows

Lock all doors and windows securely.

Consider installing deadbolts or additional locks for added security.

Check for any weak points in locks or windows and repair them.

Arrange for Mail and Deliveries

Put a hold on your mail and newspaper delivery or arrange for a neighbor to collect them.

Cancel any regular deliveries you receive.

Set up Timers for Lights

Install timers on lights inside and outside your home to give the appearance that someone is there.

Set timers to mimic your usual patterns of turning lights on and off.

Unplug Appliances

Unplug non-essential appliances and electronic devices to prevent any potential electrical hazards.

This also helps save energy while you’re away.

Adjust Thermostat and Water Heater

Adjust your thermostat to a suitable temperature to save energy but ensure it’s not too extreme to protect items like plants, pets, and certain electronic devices.

Alternatively, consider investing in a programmable thermostat that you can control remotely.

Turn water heater temperature down.

Arrange for Pet Care

If you have pets, arrange for a pet sitter, boarding, or a trusted friend or family member to take care of them.

Ensure they have enough food, water, and any necessary medication.

Notify Security Company

If you have a security system, inform the company of your vacation plans.

Provide them with emergency contact information.

Secure Valuables

Store valuables such as jewelry, important documents, and small electronics in a safe deposit box or a secure location within your home.

Arrange for Lawn Care

Arrange for someone to mow your lawn or shovel snow if needed to maintain the appearance of an occupied home.

Turn off Water Supply

Shut off the main water supply to prevent any potential leaks or flooding while you’re away.

Inspect for Potential Hazards

Check for any potential hazards such as gas leaks, faulty electrical wiring, or plumbing issues and address them before leaving.

Inform Trusted Neighbors and Police Department

Inform trusted neighbors about your vacation plans. They can keep an eye on your property and notify you of any suspicious activity.

Police departments may offer courtesy visits to check on your property.

Backup Important Data

Backup important files and data from your computer and store them securely.

Notify Credit Card Companies

If you’re traveling internationally, notify your credit card companies to prevent any potential issues with transactions.

Emergency Contacts

Leave emergency contact information with a trusted friend or neighbor in case they need to reach you.

By following this checklist, you can leave your home with peace of mind, knowing that you’ve taken necessary precautions to keep it safe and secure during your extended vacation.

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Organizing Your Next Road Trip

by | Feb 4, 2021 | Organizing, Travel

Being organized will make a family road trip an amazing and memorable experience. When everyone knows the route, schedule, activities, and food, the trip will go as smoothly as it can. Here are some ideas to help get organized for the family road trip.

Map out the Route in Advance

Map out your route to help plan your trip. Understand where there may be traffic jams, construction, and road closures so you can plan for detours. Print your map, even if you are using GPS there may be areas without service. The kids might also enjoy a copy of the map to follow along. Plan for frequent stops to swap drivers and get some exercise. Consider worksheets, stories, and games that are themed around the geographic location you are traveling through. It will add value to the travel experience.

Schedule Car Activities

Have a schedule for activities in the car, stops along the way, and arrival time. A schedule will help ease anxiety and limit the “Are we there yet?” questions. Break the schedule into one- or two-hour segments for making stops, meals, and changing activities. Have a variety of activities for the kids to complete amongst themselves, independently, and as a family to make the time go by. Ongoing activities and competitions such as a license plate game, road trip treasure hunt, and bingo allow for some friendly competition. Independent activities can include simple crafts, coloring books, activity sheets, and reading for nice, quiet time.

Plan Snacks and Meals

Create a plan for snacks and meals for the trip. Healthy food options that are well thought out will keep energy up and appetites satisfied. Kids like to eat often, so allow them choices for healthy snacks every hour or so. Schedule in special treats too so they have something to look forward to. Fresh veggies, fruit, veggie chips, granola bars, finger sandwiches, and cheese and crackers, are great choices to help you avoid expensive stops for unhealthy fast food. A road trip meal plan will also keep the captain’s and co captain’s energy levels maximized. A little preparation before the trip will keep everyone nourished.

Organize Car Ahead of Time

Organize the car at the start of the trip. Have a place for food, activities, personal items, and emergency items that may be needed while in transit. Overnight items can be packed a little deeper in the vehicle. We suggest having items needed for any overnight stops on the way packed in a separate bag or area for easy access.

When the trip involves daily travel to new locations and lodging, consider separate bags of clothing for each stop to reduce the need to completely unpack and repack. Have the kid’s activities and materials organized for each child to prevent panic and frustration as they will know where everything is. Have your personal items organized too such as cash, water, snacks, sunglasses, umbrellas, and maps. You will want to have extra water, plastic bags, wet wipes, medication, and emergency contacts available. For the return trip, keep the same level of organization to reduce stress and keep the vehicle tidy.

Have fun planning your next family road trip. The more organized the plan is, the more enjoyable the experience will be.