- Make your home look occupied – this will deter thieves and vandals
- Have the post office hold your mail or have a neighbor collect it daily
- Tell your neighbors when you are traveling so they can keep an eye on your home. Give them your contact information as well.
- Arrange for snow removal in advance, and tell the contractor to keep the snow removed to make it look like you are home
- Tell your home security company that the house will be empty
- Tell your credit card companies that you will be traveling
- Unplug unnecessary appliances – keep the refrigerator and freezer plugged in!
- Adjust the furnace temperature to save energy, but keep it high enough to keep pipes and house plants from freezing. Generally, experts recommend 50 degrees. Lower the temperature on your hot water heater.
- If the outside temperature is very low, you’ll want to make sure the furnace is working. You might be able to monitor the temperature with your smart phone. If not, have a neighbor check on the house every couple of days.
- Winds can be high in the winter so stow away outdoor furniture and trash cans. These can be flying missiles!
Now you can get away for a while and still have peace of mind that everything is okay at home!
You must be logged in to comment.