Whether you’re travelling for work or spending several months abroad, leaving your home empty requires more than simply locking the front door behind you.
A little preparation before you leave can make coming home far more enjoyable. Rather than worrying about what might be happening while you’re away, you can focus on your trip knowing you’ve taken sensible precautions.
Securing your property before you go
Double-check every lock and deadbolt across your home, paying extra attention to side gates and patio doors. You can install smart light timers to trigger living room and bedroom lamps at irregular intervals, which creates the illusion of there being someone in your home to anyone watching from the street.
Ask a reliable neighbour to collect any stray leaflets from your doorstep. This keeps the porch tidy. Also, setting up a temporary hold via the Royal Mail Keepsafe service prevents mail piling up behind your front door.
Test your burglar alarm control panel and wipe the lenses on exterior security cameras so that you can be sure everything is clear before you set off.
Managing utilities and household tasks
There are several tasks to carry out around the home:
- Unplug all non-essential electronics at the wall to save energy and remove fire risks from potential power surges.
- Set your thermostat to a frost-protection mode during colder months so your pipes never freeze
- Completely turn off the main water stopcock to prevent internal leaks while you are away
- Clear out the fridge
- Take out all household rubbish to your external wheelie bins on the morning of your departure
Protecting your belongings while you’re away
There are some important steps to take here. Start by moving expensive electronics, jewellery, and sensitive paperwork away from ground-floor windows and secure smaller high-value items inside a fireproof home safe.
For larger heirlooms, your car, or any high-value furniture that you would rather not leave in an empty house, renting local self-storage units like those in Coventry, provides a secure, climate-controlled environment that gives complete peace of mind while you travel.
Walk through each room with your smartphone to record a quick video tour of what’s there and detail any serial numbers for your home insurance policy in case you ever need to make a claim.
Setting up for a smooth return
Set up automated direct debits for all your household bills to ensure you never miss a payment while exploring different time zones.
Strip your bed and vacuum the carpets right before you head to the airport. This ensures your home is clean on your return. Also, if you can, arrange for a trusted family member to drop off fresh milk and bread the day you land, as this makes your first morning back home completely effortless.
Packing a small welcome-home kit containing the essentials like tea bags and toiletries lets you unwind immediately without needing an urgent trip to the supermarket.
