Summer is in the air, and it is almost time for summer vacation. I know you're ready for vacation, but is your house ready? Here's a few good ideas or things to think through before you head out or leave your house on vacation. Okay, first of all, don't neglect trash day. I don't know if you have a neighbor or a friend that can run out. Throw your trash can out by the road, make sure that stuff gets picked up. Nothing is more important than getting home to an overflowing trash can. What about your mail or any packages that are coming to your door? You can ask the mail office to hold your mail or ask that same trusted friend to maybe collect those things for you. It's not a great idea to have those things overflowing or sitting out the whole time you are gone.
Also, if you have any neighbors, you might just give them a heads up. Keep an eye on the place if you know them well. Things on the inside to think about unplug any appliances that could overheat. I know sometimes some coffee makers stay hot to keep water instantly warm or especially hair appliances or things like that. An iron. Of course, you want to make sure that those things are unplugged, so I tend to triple check those things before leaving the house, especially on vacation.
Your thermostat. This is a great way to just save a little money while you're gone to make sure that those things are set high enough or low enough where they're not just going to be running and wasting energy the whole time you are gone. The other things to consider would be adjusting your blinds. Are you someone who normally leaves all your windows open or things like that? It's not a bad idea to shut those while you're gone, just in case someone decides to take a look around while you are not there.
One of my favorite little tricks are the timers that you can put on a lamp. Pretty cool to have your lights cut on and cut off as if you were still home as an added security feature. And of course, before you shut the doors on your car and head out to the airport or head off to wherever it is that you're going, make sure that you've locked up. Triple check those things again just to make sure as you are ready for your vacation, your house is ready for you to be gone as well.
