Holidays should be about recharging and resting. The last thing you want is a possible disaster awaiting you at home. If you are leaving your place empty over the holidays, here are some simple precautions you can take to keep your home safe and save yourself from major headaches when you return.
Talk to Your Trusted Neighbors
Depending on how much you trust your neighbors, you could ask them to keep an eye on your place while you’re away. If they are good friends, perhaps they would be willing to put out the garbage bins, bring in the mail, and/or feed your pets. Let them know exactly where you’ll be and when you’ll be back so they can contact you if anything happens to your home. Don’t forget to give them a nice bottle of bubbles or a gift basket for their trouble.
Cancel Services & Deliveries
You don’t want your mailbox to overflow or for unopened parcels to be left in front of your door. Thieves are always on the lookout for signs like these that the occupant is not home. So, if your neighbors can’t make the commitment to bring in all your mail and various deliveries, it would be a good idea to cancel these types of things ahead of time.
Lock it Up or Take it With You
It goes without saying to ensure that all windows and doors are locked and if you have an alarm, to set it before you leave. Make sure you don’t leave any spare sets of keys outside – take them with you, just in case. Set sensor lights if you have them. Remove any ladders or gardening tools – anything that would make it easier for someone to break into your home.
We would recommend taking your valuables with you, but if this is not possible, just make sure your valuable items are hidden out of sight – and nowhere near a window. In fact, it may be a good idea to close the curtains in your apartment, so no one can peek inside. You might want to save the photos and updates on social media until you return from your holiday adventure.
Take out the Trash & Clean out the Fridge
The last thing you want to do when you return from your holiday is come back to a smelly apartment. Throw out any old food – or food that is about to go bad – and get all your trash together so that you can get rid of it before you leave.
Garbage that consists of rotting food not only leaves behind quite a nasty stench, but it can also attract all types of insects and rodents. You don’t want to be greeted by rodents when you return from your winter vacation.
Unplug Unnecessary Electronics but Leave the Heat On!
There are several electronic devices that you can unplug before you leave – microwaves, computers, television – why not save some money on your electric bill? While we recommend turning the heat down, it’s not a good idea to turn it completely off. You don’t want your pipes to burst or freeze while you are away. If that happens, you are looking at severe damage and a big bill to get everything repaired. That’s nothing in comparison to the small amount of money you will pay for your heating bill.
Update your Rental Insurance
Last, but certainly not least, make sure your renter’s insurance is up to date. While all residents of Garden Communities CT properties are required to have renter’s insurance, you may just want to double-check that your current policy protects you from floods and various emergencies. You can visit effectivecoverage.com to find a policy that suits you.
Once you’ve covered the month’s rent (you don’t want to deal with late fees) and checked off the handy list above, you are ready to go! We hope you have a wonderful winter holiday.
If you would like to move into one of our Garden Communities, please take the time to check out some of them online.