How to Prepare Your Home before Going on Holiday

Enjoying a stress-free holiday starts before even stepping foot on a plane, as the home preparations can make a huge difference to your break. Did I leave the oven on? Where did I put the spare key? And Where’s grandma? Aren’t questions which anyone wants to be plagued with when their sunning themselves on the beaches of Barbados or exploring remarkable Roman ruins. Having a checklist of pre-holiday prep is essential to getting your holiday off to a flying start, giving you the time and clear mind to know your valuables are safe. As well as keeping your essentials safe, preparing well for your break can help you save money, reduce the risk of damage and leave you with a beautiful home to come back to.

 

 

Take Care of Perishables and Unplug Appliances

Coming home to a house that smells of gone off food and waste puts bit of a downer on your holiday cheer. Get rid of perishable foods before you go or freeze foods which will save until a later date. You can also go one step further if your holiday is particularly long, as you can prevent mould and mildew by leaving an open container of baking soda in your fridge. Unplugging appliances is also something most people consider a key aspect of preparing for a holiday. Be sure to turn off the water supply at the mains to avoid unwanted water bills from leaks and unplug unessential electrical appliances to keep down electricity costs.

 

Let Everyone Know – Well, Not Everyone!

Before you fly off to exotic lands, there is always the technical stuff to sort out first. From cancelling regular deliveries to arranging a sitter, there are just some mundane bits and bobs you have to arrange before you go. Ensure you cancel or rearrange deliveries and leave a spare key and emergency contact details with a trusted friend incase any issues arise. If you have a security system in place and are concerned about valuables, having a friend house sit or even letting your security provider know that you are going away can put your mind at ease. As well as keeping those you trust in the know, it is also not a good idea to let all of your social media contacts know about your adventure as this can increase risk of burglary and leave your valuables vulnerable. Don’t forget to plan your pet sitters and plant waterers well in advance so your little companions are well looked after while you are away.

 

Give the Right Impression

There are some quick ways in which arranging your home before going on holiday can easily encourage or deter potential thieves. Doing simple things such as drawing curtains and mowing the lawn can ward off people looking for unoccupied homes as they are signs someone is either currently in or hasn’t been gone long. If your letterbox is bursting with mail, that’s also a subtle hint that someone has gone away, so perhaps ask a neighbour to pick up your post or have it delivered to their house until you get back. If you have a smart home, using remote control lighting can give the impression you are home when you are away, or simply invest in some automatic tinner switches (which only cost about £12) so you can set your lights to come on for short periods of time.

 

Give Yourself Time

Although we always say we will give ourselves enough time to prepare for our break, some of us are just natural last-minuters. By doing simple things such as unplugging appliances you don’t use or planning for a pet sitter well in advance, you can avoid the last-minute rush whilst you take care of the things you have to leave until the day you go away. One way to save time is by giving yourself more of it; have an early flight? Well by booking your airport car parking beforehand you can leave later, pack up the car and be ready to get up and go. Using online comparisons sites such as parking at airports means you can find the most convenient and affordable airport parking; taking the hassle out of your journey.

Some of the holiday preparations can only take place just before you leave, such as chucking away unused foods and unplugging appliances. However, ensuring you get what you can done before the last-minute rush kicks in, can save you stress, time and money; as well as lessening the risk of you forgetting something important. Organise your pet sitters and airport parking early so you know your companion will be cared for and your car can be packed ready to go. Keep the house in good shape, give the illusion you aren’t away for long and last of all…. enjoy a stress-free holiday!

 

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Don’t forget you can pop over to my Simple Parenting blog to find more great parenting and play articles and to my Eat Simply blog for some fabulous recipes. I also blog about being thrifty at Baby Budgeting and Family-Budgeting so do pop over and take a peek for more money saving ideas and to A Beautiful Space for home and lifestyle inspiration