A Pre-Vacation Checklist: Get Your House In Order

By Yvaine Capleton


Regardless of whether you are leaving on a long-awaited vacation, an extended business trip or a weekend getaway, preparing to go out of town can frequently be both time-consuming and stressful. The last thing you would like to do is add to the to-do list. Nevertheless, attending to household responsibilities before you leave can make your return home much more relaxing and alleviate stress while on the road. In this way, you will not feel a wave of panic-on the beach or in the boardroom-when you remember that you forgot to feed the dog or pay a very important bill.

Here are 4 tasks you should take care of before leaving home and a few time-saving ways to check them off your list.

Make home appear like you've never left. Regardless of whether you are 100 or 1,000 miles away, your house should appear inhabited as a safety precaution. To do this, buy low-cost timers that can be programmed to turn on and off radios, televisions and lights. Piles of newspapers next to the front door could be a definite indication that no one is home. Avoid this by holding subscriptions and mail with the postal service (downloadable forms are available online at www.usps.com) or choose to receive bills electronically via bill payment services to permanently reduce clutter.

Look after business. To steer clear of missed payments for utilities along with other important bills, set up automatic bill pay before you leave. Using a Visa card is an easy, convenient and secure way to pay household bills such as utilities, cable TV and insurance when you're traveling. This time-saving tool can benefit everyone, particularly frequent business travelers who are frequently away from home. Choose a one-time payment or automatic payments to ensure that your bills are paid on time every month regardless of where you are. Much more info is available online at www.visa.com/billpay.

Prepare your pets and plants. If your four-legged friend isn't leaving town with you, hiring a pet sitter or making reservations at a kennel will aid your pet receive the proper care. To avoid returning home to overgrown landscaping and dead house plants, make arrangements to have your yard cared for in your absence. For short trips, set a timer for your sprinklers and think about placing house plants in shaded outdoor areas close to a sprinkler. Or request a trustworthy neighbor to feed your pets and water your house plants.

Give yourself a break on energy costs. Before leaving, switch off your water and gas and unplug common appliances such as microwaves and televisions. This will both reduce unneeded usage and prevent damage caused by energy surges. Consider setting your thermostat 10 degrees lower than the outside temperature or simply turn it off. If you'll be away for a long time period, switch off your pilot light for maximum savings.

From putting lights on timers to setting up automatic bill pay, following these tips can minimize pretravel stress and aid make your return home sweet.






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