How To Prepare Your Empty House Before You Go On Vacation

House
Flickr | www.metaphoricalplatypus.com

When you’re getting ready to leave for a vacation, there’s a lot to do: pack, deal with your pets, and find someone who will water your plants. But the most important thing to do before you jet off to your destination is making sure your house is safe and secure while you’re away.

Here are five things to prepare in your house before you leave for a trip, so you can return well-rested to an empty, safe and clean home:

1. Adjust Your Thermostat

You don’t want to come home to a huge electric bill because someone left the air conditioning on. Set your thermostat to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, which will still protect your plants, furniture, and electronics without costing you a fortune.

2. Unplug Electronics

Even if your electronics are off, they still use a bit of energy when plugged in. Avoid getting charged and unplug everything before you go. This includes items like TVs, game consoles, coffee makers, and toothbrushes. You don’t want to spend any more money than you have to while you’re gone!

television photo
Flickr | Bonsoni.com

3. Suspend Your Mail And Newspaper Delivery

You don’t want to come home to a big pile of mail and newspapers at your door, which is also an obvious sign to burglars that no one’s home. Contact the U.S. Postal Service to suspend your mail and contact your newspaper’s subscription office to put a temporary hold on delivery — or at least have a friend or neighbor pick your mail and papers for you.

4. Clean Out Your Fridge

The last thing you want to come home to is a stinky home because food was left rotting inside the fridge. Clean out the food that is about to expire, but leave any items that can last for awhile, such as cans of soda, because you don’t want your fridge to be completely empty. A stocked refrigerator will actually keep it running more efficiently.

refridgerator photo
Flickr | pmsyyz

5. Turn Off The Water

To avoid coming home to a leak, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve. However, make note that some household items may require it to remain on, such as an automatic sprinkling system.

Home, Life, Travel
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About the Author
Carina Wolff
Carina is a health and wellness journalist based in Los Angeles. When she’s not writing, doing yoga, or exploring mountains and beaches, she spends her time cooking and creating recipes for her healthy food blog, Kale Me Maybe. Carina is also an ongoing writer for Bustle, Reader's Digest, FabFitFun, and more.

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