Bust the homecoming blues by prepping your home before you go.
Not everyone can afford or feels comfortable with the idea of a house sitter.
Here’s a quick check list to ensure that you leave your home as prepared as possible for any onslaughts while you are on holiday. You’ll thank us later!
1. Water and plumbing:
Remove or open all bath and basin plugs.
This will help if a tap suddenly starts flowing for some reason – the water should be able to drain away before it spills over the edge and floods your house. Yes, you’ll have a sky-high utility bill to look forward to, but at least your carpets won’t be drenched.
Check all outside taps for drips and clear outside drains.
Clear, open drains will once again help if there is some sort of plumbing emergency and drain water away from your home.
Clean gutters and check downspouts
Blocked gutters can lead to water accumulation on your roof which can cause damage.
2. Safety and security:
Walk the fences and check line of sight.
If you have electric fencing, trim any overhanging branches and leaves that could set off your fence alarm if the wind blows of there is heavy rain.
The same goes for your security “beams”. Ensure that there are no plants growing and obscuring your line-of-sight security systems, this includes remotely monitored cameras and other motion activated security components. Nothing is worse than that 3am call from your security company because something tripped your alarm system, just to find out it was a palm frond or tree branch.
Check your smoke detectors and look out for fire hazards.
It’s always a good idea to have an electrician come and inspect your home for potential electrical faults. If you don’t have time for that, at least switch off and plug out any non-essential devices, pick up any cables from the floor, switch off unnecessary breakers in your circuit board and look around for any obvious fire risks. Do not have blankets or linen piled near wall socket and switch off all indoor heating – check panel heaters and under floor heating.
3. General cleaning:
Take out your trash.
This seems obvious but you would be surprised how often something is forgotten in a trash can…and how smelly that something can make a house that has been deserted for 3 weeks.
Check your dishwasher.
The last coffee cup or porridge bowl from before you left can become a total biohazard if it’s left in the humid and enclosed space that is a dishwasher. Trust us.
Check your fruit bowels and fridge/pantry.
Summer is pest season, and there’s nothing that will attract bugs and midges like a forlorn banana or tomato that’s been left to fester in the fruit bowl. The same goes for your fridge, you don’t want to imbibe your fridge with the aroma of that left-over piece of blue cheese or that onion. Clean out all food and ensure that all your sauces and the million inevitable little bottles are sealed shut. As for your pantry – most food here is nonperishable, but you should still make sure that its sealed up tight to avoid pests making a feast from your rice and flour.
Phone a friend.
If you feel comfortable leave a set of house keys with someone you trust who lives near you – this way, should someone need access to your home while you are gone, (security or repair guys), you can simply phone that friend and arrange it.
Top Tip: If you are making use of pre-paid electricity, be sure to buy enough electricity before you leave to keep your home powered and online.
Its also a good idea to check your insurance policy agreement and make sure that you have your policy numbers and details at hand should you have to deal with an emergency while you are on holiday.
