Our family is currently on our summer 2024 road trip. But before you think I’m crazy-town for announcing to the world that we’re not home, check out this post! I’m going over all the things you should do to prepare your home before you leave for vacation. Spoiler alert–one of them is to secure your home. Keep reading for all my pre-travel checklist tips! Some links contain affiliates, all opinions are my own.

preparing your home before vacation

Sometimes it’s hard coming back from a trip. You know what makes it easier? Having a tidy home waiting for you! You also don’t want to be on your fun family getaway and worried about the things you forgot to do at home. Did you leave the thermostat on? Is there food in the fridge that’s going bad? There are several things I do to prepare our home before vacation time. From safety to cleanliness, these are my must-dos for one reason or another!

| Read: Building a Summer Travel Capsule Wardrobe |

pre-travel to-do list

Secure Your Home:

Lock all doors and windows, set your alarm system if you have one, and consider using smart home devices to monitor your home from wherever you are. Consider asking someone to house sit for you—responsible teenagers from the neighborhood or church usually love to be asked! If your house will be sitting empty, wait to post about your trip until after you’re already home.

Hold Mail and Deliveries:

Put a hold on mail and any scheduled deliveries—you can apply for a mail hold online here. Alternatively, you can ask a trusted neighbor to collect mail and packages to avoid obvious signs that you’re away. Be sure to check your Amazon account if you’ve made recent orders to see if anything is expected to arrive while you’re away.

Adjust Thermostat:

Set your thermostat to an energy-saving temperature. Many thermostats these days have vacation settings. Or, if you have a smart thermostat you can adjust it while you’re gone. That way, you can ensure it doesn’t get too hot while you’re away, and you can start adjusting the temp on your way home so you can arrive home to a comfortable temperature. You do NOT want to come home to a house in the thirties in the middle of winter, or the nineties in the heat of summer—ask me how I know.

Unplug Electronics:

It’s best to uplug unnecessary electronics to save energy while you’re away. It’s also important to protect against potential power surges with surge strips like this one.

Arrange Pet Care:

Ensure pets are cared for by a pet sitter, friend, or boarding service. Consider getting them groomed before you leave so they’ll be clean for whomever is watching them. Type up a list of tips and instructions before you go so Fido will be well cared for with their normal routine while you’re away.

Water Plants:

While you prepare you home before vacation, don’t forget to water plants thoroughly before leaving. You can also set up a self-watering system for longer trips. Traveling during Christmastime? Don’t forget about your tree! You can purchase an incognito tree waterer like this one to keep your tree fresh while you’re gone.

Empty the Fridge:

The great thing about this trip prep tip is that it helps make the week leading up to your trip easier because you’re not doing much cooking! If you’re going to be gone for more than a couple days, clear out your fridge as best you can. Dispose of any perishables and take out the trash to avoid unpleasant odors and pests.

Set Timers for Lights:

Use timers for indoor and outdoor lights to give the impression that someone is home. You don’t have to go full-blown Kevin McCallister in Home Alone! It’s much easier to switch outdoor bulbs for light sensor bulbs, that way you can just leave the switch on while you’re gone and it will turn on at the appropriate times.

Notify a Neighbor:

Let a trusted neighbor know you’ll be away so they can keep an eye on your property. They can also check your front porch for packages. If they live next door you might ask them to occasionally park in your driveway so it appears that someone is periodically there. This is also good practice for safety while traveling abroad–let your neighbor know which dates you’ll be in which locations and who to contact in case of emergency.

Double-Check Travel Documents:

Ensure all passports, tickets, and other travel documents are packed and accessible. Going on a road trip? Consider printing up directions in case you’re driving through areas with no reception for GPS. Have a travel itinerary and confirmation numbers in a Google Doc for easy reference.

What are some of your must-do steps to prepare your home before vacation?

Follow along on our family’s adventures on Instagram!