So much of traveling and sharing your travels is done on social media these days and that can be quite dangerous. Posting on social media that you’re going on a trip or are planning to go on a trip is basically signaling the bad guys to let them know you won’t be home. My dad is a safety freak when it comes to this sort of thing and he hates that I share my travels online because he wants to make sure I’m safe.

Planning a vacation can be chaotic, and with all that rush and excitement it’s easy to get lost and forget that other than yourself, you need to prepare your house too. Before you leave, it’s important to make sure that your house is well-secured and left in good condition. From safety issues to taking care of your pets and plants, here’s the ultimate checklist for prepping your home for the trip and allowing yourself to enjoy a worry-free vacation.

5 Worry-Free Safety Tips to Leave Your Home Safe and Sound

1. Think about safety

Even though your trip may be short and neighborhood-friendly, a break-in can always happen. For this reason, it’s a good idea to test your alarm system and upgrade it if need be before you go. Also, you can tell your neighbors that you’re going on a trip so that they can immediately react if they notice something strange happening around your house.

If you have parents, family, or nice neighbors make sure they pick up your paper. Nothing signals that no one is home than 7 papers outside your door.

Pro tip: make sure you log onto USPS and UPS and stop your mail until you return.

Additionally, you can install a lighting system that switches your lights on and off from time to time, thus making it look like there’s always someone in the house. You can also install motion detector lights to switch on when someone moves in front of them. If you’re not eager to leave your house empty, consider hiring a house sitter.

We recommend this one. 

2. Don’t forget to clean up

The fact that you’ll be away for a while doesn’t mean that you should leave your house in a mess, because that mess will wait for you until you get back. Instead, be sure to remove from your fridge any food leftovers that can easily go bad and to take out the trash to avoid any unpleasant odors. Also, don’t forget to wash your laundry and dry it too, otherwise, it might become smelly and moldy.

You do not want to come back to a brand new swarm of nats around your trash. ICK!

3. Leave your pet(s) in good hands

Taking your pet with you on a vacation is not an option sometimes, as some places don’t allow them, and you certainly can’t leave them alone at home. Fortunately, pet sitters are always there to help. You can find a trusty pet boarding service and be certain that your pet will be happy and loved there while you’re away.

Alternatively, you can hire a pet sitter to take care of the pet in your own house. Regardless of your choice, provide the person in question with all the necessary information and items, including your pet’s favorite food and toys.

4. Take care of your plants

Plants need to be watered regularly, so it might be a good idea to install a water irrigation system. They are useful not only when you’re away but also when you lack the time to water the garden and they achieve a much better watering effect. With house plants, it’s best to have a friend come over and water them every day or they can bring them home together with your instructions on how to properly take care of them. I certainly don’t have a green thumb so my mom helps me out here.  She usually kidnaps my plants when they’re on the verge of death to save them anyway so this is no different for her.

5. Save water and energy

You probably keep your thermostat on all the time when you’re at home, but there’s no reason to do this while you’re away. By turning it off you’re conserving energy and reducing your heating and electricity bills. If you’re going on a trip during winter, remember to shut the water supply to prevent pipes from bursting due to water freezing.

Preparing your house before you go on a trip may require a bit of your time, effort, and money, but you’ll be able to enjoy your vacation without worrying whether you’ve left something unattended. After you’ve done all these things, it’s time to pack and start your journey. You can rest assured that everything is fine back at home.

If you have any additional tips, be sure to let us know in the comments below!