how do i prepare my home for an extended absence

How do I prepare my house for a long absence?

What to do when you leave your house for a long time?

What do you do when you leave your house for 2 months?

How do I show proof of vacation on my house?

Is it better to leave curtains open or closed when away?

How long can I leave my house empty?

What do you do when you leave your house for 3 months?

How do you winterize a vacant house?

Can you leave a house unheated in the winter?

What to do with your house when you travel?

Should you leave lights on when you go out of town?

How long before you go on vacation should you test out your doors?

Test out all your doors and windows a week or two before you go on vacation to ensure they are all in working order. This way, you can get anything that isn’t closing or locking properly repaired before you leave town.

How to protect your home from burglary?

Remove valuables from where they can be seen through windows or doors to protect your home from burglary. Put smaller items away in drawers or closets and move large items to different rooms where they aren’t easily visible. Don’t forget to conceal any high-value items in your garage as well.

Can burglars break into a window?

Standard window glass is incredibly easy to break, which means that burglars can gain entry to your home through an unsecured window or door in just a matter of seconds. Laminated security glass solves this problem by adding an invisible, virtually unbreakable layer of protection on top of your existing glass.

What to do in preparation for flying north?

There are a number of general things to do in preparation for "flying north." Make sure to update your emergency contact information with your Home Owners or Community Association including giving them the name of your emergency key holder and who has a key. If available, sign up for any Vacation Watch programs your community offers. Some police departments have vacation check programs. Notify them, and generally they will do a routine check of the house. While some will only drive by and look for suspicious activity, some will get out of their vehicles and inspect the grounds looking for any break-ins. If contact information is left with the police, they can phone the homeowners if there has been a break-in or disturbance.

Do police do vacation checks?

Some police departments have vacation check programs. Notify them, and generally they will do a routine check of the house. While some will only drive by and look for suspicious activity, some will get out of their vehicles and inspect the grounds looking for any break-ins.

How to get rid of ice smell in refrigerator?

Don't forget to turn off the ice maker and place a box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb odors. Regarding other appliances, put 2-3 tbsp. of vegetable oil in the dishwasher to keep the seals moist. Do not latch the door.

How to secure your home when you are away?

Perhaps the most important aspect of this preparation is making sure your home appears occupied. 1. Lock All External Doors, Windows, and the Garage.

Is it better to come home to a clean house?

It’s always better to come home to a clean and uncluttered house. Perhaps it’s the last thing you want to do in the midst of packing, but you’ll thank yourself when you arrive back home.

Do floodlights deter theft?

Having bright floodlights turn on is an excellent theft deterrent. Outdoor floodlights with built in motion sensors are available at Home Depot, Lowes, and Amazon (among others) and do an excellent job at detecting and deterring would-be thieves. They can also automatically light the way when you get home.

What happens if you leave mail unchecked?

Left unchecked, mail will likely accumulate beyond your mail box capacity and potentially announce your absence. Thank you, junk mail.

How to stop sewer fumes from entering your home?

To prevent sewer fumes from entering your home, you can wrap your toilet bowl in saran wrap. Just be sure to put a black X on the saran wrap to prevent an accident.

What can be damaged in an electrical storm?

Walk around your house and unplug everything that’s not a lamp on a timer or otherwise related to an alarm system. Even toasters and DVD/Blu-ray players can be damaged in a lighting storm.

Why do smoke detectors beep when you are not home?

If your smoke detector batteries are almost dead, they may begin beeping in your absence. If there’s a fire, your insurance company may challenge your claim because your fire detectors were not functioning. When in doubt, replace the batteries, and test the detectors.

How to make your house appear occupied while you're gone?

To make your house appear occupied while you're gone, and a less appealing target for burglars, put timers. on lamps in different rooms of your home . The timers turn on and off the lights at different times of the night, as if someone in the house were flipping a switch.

How to prevent flooding from a burst pipe?

Turning off the main water supply to your home is the best defense against flooding caused by a burst pipe or other plumbing failure. "If you're going to have a leaky supply line, it's going to happen while you're away," says Fred Spaulding, president of Quality Home Improvements, Inc., in Kingwood, Texas. And a major leak could be catastrophic if nobody’s around to deal with it. In the Houston area, where he lives, for example, hot-water tanks are placed in attics to avoid taking up floor space in living areas. "If that water tank leaks, you'd better catch it quickly," he says. "I've seen cabinets in kitchens destroyed. It only takes a little bit of a leak."

What happens if my furnace stops working?

That way, if your furnace stops working, the water in the tanks won't freeze, expand, and crack the porcelain. But even if you shut off the water supply to the toilet and then flush the toilet, there will still be some water in the bowl.

How long does the postal service hold mail?

The postal service will hold your mail for a minimum of three days, but not more than 30 days. And you can choose to either have all the accumulated mail delivered to your mailbox on the day you return, or they’ll hold it for you to pick up at the post office. This service is offered free of charge.

What happens if a sump pump fails?

If the sump pump fails during a major storm, you could return to a flooded basement or crawlspace. So, make sure the sump pump is working before you leave town by dumping a bucket of water into the sump pit. If the pump doesn’t kick on, call a plumber.

What happens if you go out of town?

If you’re out of town when the electricity goes out, food can spoil in the refrigerator, irrigation systems will stop watering the lawn, automatic timers will stop turning on and off the lights that are making your home look occupied. Make sure smoke detectors are working properly.

How to check for a septic system?

Hire a house sitter (or ask a trusted friend or neighbor) to make periodic checks inside your home. They should: 1 Flush all toilets so that sewer gases don’t build up, especially if your home is on a septic tank. 2 Confirm mail is being held or collected. 3 Make sure the irrigation system is working and water outdoor and indoor potted plants. 4 Cut the lawn or confirm the landscape service is doing it. 5 Adjust the thermostat a day before the end of your trip so you arrive to a comfortable home temperature.

How to get rid of odors in garbage disposal?

Run a mixture of vinegar and water through the garbage disposal so odors don’t build up. Empty and wash all trashcans. Set the thermostat to reasonable temperature. For a winter trip, set the thermostat to a low temperature, but not so low that pipes will freeze.