18 Nov How to Prepare Your Home for a Long-Term Absence
Extended travel can enhance your life in many ways, but for true peace of mind, you need to secure your home thoroughly before you leave. A combination of simple planning and modern technology can protect your property from theft, damage and unexpected issues. Explore how to keep your space safe when you’ll be on vacation for a while.
What Are the Key Issues to Consider When Planning an Extended Absence?
The four main sections on any pre-departure checklist should be:
- Home security
- Utilities
- Final preparations
- Smart packing
The ideal scenario would be to entrust your home to a relative, friend or sitter who can visit regularly during your long time of absence. They can help with small tasks like watering your plants, collecting mail, and maintaining your yard or garden. Creating the illusion that someone is still home could also help deter opportunistic thieves.
Having someone stop by your place mitigates many of the risks of leaving it unattended for an extended period, but it’s not always possible. If you don’t have that option, there are still plenty of steps you can take.
How Can I Secure My Home While Away?
Going away for a long time is exciting but can be daunting. By planning ahead, you can lessen anxiety and focus on the excitement. Effective home security during a long-term absence has two key components, namely creating an illusion of occupancy, and using smart technology to stay alert.
How to Make Your Property Look Lived-In
This is the golden rule of leaving home for weeks or months: an empty-looking house is an invitation you don’t want to send. A lived-in look is your first line of defense, and thankfully, it’s easy to fake with the right systems in place.
If you have a willing neighbour, house-sitter, or friend doing check-ins, they can help by opening and closing curtains, turning lights on and off, watering plants, and generally creating signs of life. But even without a designated helper, you can set the stage:
- Pause or redirect newspaper delivery so papers don’t pile up on the doorstep.
- Redirect your mail (or switch paper bills to email) so the mailbox stays clear.
- Book regular lawn care to keep grass trimmed and pathways tidy.
- Schedule snow or leaf removal if you’re in a seasonal climate.
- Ask a neighbour to park in your driveway occasionally…an underrated but powerful deterrent.
- Keep your bins in rotation by asking your friendly neighbour to wheel them out and back on collection day.
- Leave a pair of shoes or a watering can by the door (as long as it’s not valuable).
These little things all add up to maintain an illusion of occupancy during your time of absence. Additionally, consider using smart plugs, smart light switches, and programmable timers for interior lights to simulate a daily routine. Some allow you to randomize timings to deter unwanted attention – smart curtains or blinds might have a similar effect.
How to Secure Your Property With Smart Technology
Today’s tech can do more than just turn the lights on and off. Smart security systems can include video doorbells and outdoor cameras that offer real-time views of what’s happening at home. Install a good system and learn how to use its remote features to the full.
Your garage is a major and often-overlooked point of entry, so securing it is essential. Of those who have a smart garage door opener, 70% rank remote monitoring and control as a major advantage. You will be notified of any unexpected activity instantly.
What Should I Do About Utilities During a Long-Term Absence?
Water and electricity systems are primary concerns because leaks can cause extensive damage, and electricity issues pose a major fire hazard.
How to Prevent Water and Plumbing Issues
This depends on your climate and the duration of your absence. If you live in a warm area or have someone regularly checking your home, you may be able to get away with simply shutting off individual appliance valves. If you do this, consider installing smart leak detectors to alert you of any problems.
However, if you’ll be away during cold weather or for a very long time, the simplest option is to turn off your main water valve. This can prevent thousands of dollars’ worth of damage from burst pipes or slow leaks, which may not be covered by your insurance if the system has been left unattended for an extended period.
How to Prevent Electrical and HVAC Problems
Set your home’s thermostat to an energy-saving temperature. That usually means cooler in winter but warm enough to prevent frozen pipes, and warmer in summer. Avoid the temptation to turn it off altogether, as this can lead to condensation buildup in the winter and mould and mildew growth in the summer.
Turning off the main electricity breaker is not an option if you’re taking advantage of smart tech and not generally recommended in any case, as it can cause more harm than good. Instead, unplug nonessential electronics like TVs, coffee makers, kettles, toasters and appliances. Clear out and defrost your freezer, and clear out the fridge. Unplug them but leave the doors ajar to prevent mildew.
What About Final Preparations and Packing?
In the final few days before you leave, you’ll want to empty your pantry of anything perishable, take out all the trash, and clean your house from top to bottom. This makes it nicer to come home to (Chanel swears by this tip!) and also gives your property the best possible starting position for its solo stint. Test your smoke detectors and run through your checklist thoroughly to ensure nothing has been overlooked.
With your home secured and prepared, the final step is to pack for the journey itself. Ensuring you have everything you need before you walk out the door is the last piece of the puzzle for a truly stress-free trip.
Packing for an extended vacation is an art in itself, but a pro tip is to wear heavy or bulky items on the ride rather than pack them. You should also ensure you have digital copies of any important documents, and leave most of your toiletries behind – they’re quite heavy and can easily be bought at your new destination.
Enjoy Your Travels With Complete Peace of Mind
Preparing your home for a long absence is the ultimate act of self-care for any traveler. By creating a thorough plan that covers everything from security and utilities to final packing, you eliminate any nagging worries that might distract you from your journey. Leveraging smart technology for remote monitoring and taking simple steps to make your home look occupied provides a powerful layer of protection.
Try out a few different tips to see what fits your budget and need for security. Once you’ve made your plan, you can lock the door with confidence and immerse yourself fully in the adventure that awaits.
Author bio: Jack Shaw is a freelance lifestyle writer and dedicated traveler. His writing focuses on exploring the food, culture and beautiful views of wherever life decides to throw him. Stories of his travel can be seen in Modded, Trekaroo, The Travel Magazine and more. Jack has a love of all things outdoors, and sspends much of his free time taking on local hiking trails and state parks.
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