Hi! I’m Sarah Mueller from Early Bird Mom and today I’m talking to you about getting ready for summer vacation.
Do you have any fun travel plans for your summer vacation?
My kids have been counting down the days for what seems like forever. Schools are letting out and summer is finally here!
Summer is the favorite time to pack up and hit the road. But before you pack up the car and drive away, here’s a checklist of 8 things you need to do before going on vacation.
Vacation Preparation Tips: 8 Things You Need To Do Before Going on Vacation
Tell the Post Office to hold your mail and stop newspaper service
Sure, you can ask a neighbor to collect it for you, but I find it much easier to just have the Post Office hold it until we return. That way, no packages are left unattended on the doorstep and everything is delivered at the same time.
Here’s where you can create a hold mail request.
Similarly, if you receive a newspaper, make sure to cancel delivery while you’re gone.
Get someone to mow the grass and water your plants
Since we started a vegetable garden this year, we’ve had to water every day. I don’t want to lose all that hard work to a hot summer sun. So when we go away, we’ll ask a friend to water our garden. We’ll also hire a lawn service to keep the lawn under control.
An uncut lawn is a huge red flag that no one’s been home for a while. You certainly don’t want to send that signal to would-be burglars. Those bad guys – they’re not just on Facebook.
Alert neighbors that you’ll be gone and give them emergency contact numbers
In our neighborhood, we try to watch out for each other. I feel a little better knowing that my neighbors are keeping an eye on our house when we’re away and that they can contact us if there’s a problem while we’re gone.
Turn off the water supply
Friends of ours recently had a water supply line break in an upstairs bathroom. The water flowed from a thin plastic tube unchecked for just a couple hours and completely ruined the first floor of their home, requiring major renovation.
Just think what damage would be done if a line to a toilet or the washing machine burst while you are away.
It’s a simple thing to turn off the water supply to the whole house. Find out where the main shutoff valve is and avert the risk of water damage.
If you need someone to water outside, make sure that your outside water isn’t also cutoff when you do this. If so, you can shut off individual water lines one at a time.
Put a few lights on timers
Maybe I’m old fashioned about this, but I like to think it makes the home look occupied.
Turn down or off your A/C
There’s no need to waste money cooling your home while you’re away. We save $75 every month on our electric bill after we made one simple change.
If it might get too warm inside your house, you can fill your fridge with jugs of water to help it run more efficiently.
If you haven’t already, check out my post on 10 Ways to Cut Your Power Bill by 35%.
Empty all trash and remove all perishable food
Take out the trash and throw out or give away any foods that won’t last until your return. This is the perfect time to bring a dozen eggs to your neighbor!
Make sure all windows are closed and locked
We also close curtains and blinds about 75% so things don’t look too dark at night.
Keep your home safe and sound while you’re on vacation with these 8 things you need to do before going on vacation.
