Before You Leave Town: A Home Checklist

Before You Leave Town: A Home Checklist

You're finally getting ready to leave for vacation. The suitcases are packed, you've checked your flight information three times, and you're trying to remember whether you packed your phone charger.

But have you thought about what's going to happen at your house while you're gone?

A furnace that quits in the middle of winter, a water line that starts leaking, or packages piling up on the porch can turn a great vacation into a pretty expensive homecoming.

There are a few things worth taking care of before you pull out of the driveway.

1. Keep the heat on, and help it reach your pipes

It's tempting to turn the thermostat way down when nobody's going to be home. But during freezing weather, you need to keep your house warm enough to protect the plumbing.

And here's something you can do that doesn't cost a penny.

**If you have sinks with water pipes along exterior walls, consider leaving the cabinet doors open while you're away.** That allows warmer air from the room to circulate around the pipes.

Make sure your thermostat is set at a temperature appropriate for your home. If you're a snowbird heading somewhere warm for the winter, a temperature-monitoring device is also worth considering. It can alert you if the heat stops working while you're gone.

2. Know what to do with your main water supply

Imagine a small supply line under your sink starts leaking the day after you leave.

If nobody's home to notice, the water could run for days—or even months if you're one of those lucky snowbirds who gets to skip the cold weather altogether.

One way to reduce that risk is to shut off your main water supply before leaving, provided it's safe for your home's plumbing and heating systems.

Some heating equipment, fire sprinklers, and other systems require a continuous water supply. If you're unsure, have a plumber explain what can safely be turned off.

And here's another useful thing to do: locate your main water shutoff now, make sure you know how it operates, and show a trusted person where it is.

3. Don't forget about the vehicles you're leaving behind

If you're flying somewhere, your vehicles are probably staying home.

Before you leave, lock them, remove anything valuable, and make sure spare keys and garage door openers aren't visible.

If you're leaving for several months, think about what happens to a vehicle that's sitting unused all winter.

A battery can lose its charge while you're gone. Depending on the vehicle, a compatible battery maintainer (sometimes called a trickle charger) can help keep the battery charged. Some vehicles also allow the battery to be disconnected or removed for storage, but check the owner's manual before doing that. Modern vehicles can have electronics that require special procedures.

If you're going away for several months and considering reducing insurance coverage on a vehicle, call your agent. **We can help you figure out which coverages can be safely adjusted while the vehicle isn't being driven and which ones you should keep.**

4. Make sure your home looks like somebody's there

You don't need an elaborate security system to take a few sensible precautions.

Put a couple of lamps on timers so the house isn't dark every evening.

Ask someone to collect your mail and packages, or arrange to have deliveries held.

If you're leaving during the winter, make arrangements for snow removal. A driveway that hasn't been touched after several snowfalls can make it pretty obvious nobody's home.

Before you pull out, take one last walk around the outside of the house. Check the doors and windows and secure anything that could blow around in a storm.

5. Give someone you trust a way to get inside

Asking a neighbor to keep an eye on the house is a good idea.

But let's make sure they can actually help if something goes wrong.

Give them a working key or door code. Make sure they have your phone number and know where the thermostat and main water shutoff are.

If you have a temperature monitor or water sensor, arrange for someone nearby to receive alerts when the system allows it, or be ready to contact them yourself.

And don't forget to ask whether they're actually comfortable taking on that responsibility.

Before you close the front door

You don't need to spend your vacation worrying about everything that could go wrong at home.

Take a little time before you leave to protect your plumbing, prepare the vehicles you're leaving behind, and make sure someone can help if there's a problem.

Then go enjoy yourself.