Five Home Related Tasks You Must Do Before Leaving On Holiday
Leaving on holiday can be a fun and exciting experience that makes most people dreamy eyed and somewhat forgetful. They have panning lists the size of a tissue paper roll about what they should remember to do and not do when on holiday; what they should carry and so on.
But what often gets forgotten is the fact that your home needs some TLC as well before you leave for your holiday. Here is a list of five things you need to remember to do before leaving on holiday.
Switch off the gas
Many homes use gas for heat and cooking and it is often the case that in the hurry to leave on holiday, the gas will be forgotten. Now, this does not always warrant alarm but because of the unpredictability of chance and bad luck, it’s better being safe than sorry. A cat or mouse may be roaming around your home when you are away and open a gas valve somewhere which would then turn your home into a ticking time bomb.
Close and fasten the windows
Windows are the biggest culprits when it comes to home break-ins and in many cases, the burglar found an open window through which they squeezed and gained access to the home. No matter how big or small the window, you must remember to shut it properly because a burglar is not the worst thing that could happen to your home. How about a family of raccoons having a feeding frenzy in your kitchen? That could be pretty messy and unpleasant as well. So shut the windows and fasten them well.
Empty the fridge
This may sound counterintuitive because the last thing you want to find when you get home tired from your holiday is an empty fridge offering no culinary comforts. But this one is more about your health than anything. Leaving food in the fridge, especially leftovers that are not frozen could be a recipe for food poisoning, especially is you leave on a holiday that is longer than two weeks. Coming home and getting some fresh food going is the best way to get back into the rhythm of things.
Turn down the lights and unplug appliances and gadgets
Your house is an energy guzzler. Whether they are in use or not, all the appliances and gadgets making your life comfortable and convenient sap energy from the grid. As long as they are plugged in they continue to draw minute amounts of power and this can add up to some extra costs at the end of the month. Switching off lights goes without saying although if you have light timers, they can do this conveniently for you for purposes of security.
Draw the curtains
Burglars tend to scout out a house before striking. They peer through windows, observe the house from the back and front, looking for possible entry and exit points. Drawing your curtains will make sure no one is able to see inside, even when your lights come on at night. They will probably think someone is still home and keep off. While you could have timed lights and a security system, curtains are still the surest sign that someone is home. If you have automatic curtains or could have someone come by and draw them in the evening, this would be even better.
So with these five things to do before leaving, you will be making sure your home is a bit more secure and also that when you come back, you will find everything as you left it.
