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All of us, at one time or another, have left our homes for vacation feeling as though there was something that we forgot to do. Unfortunately, it is sometimes true. Although we may have carefully planned our hotel stays, transportation, clothing and toiletry needs, we have less time to think about the care and protection of our homes and pets.
Here is a quick checklist to help you prepare your home for vacation:
* About two months before vacation, call your kennel, pet sitter or house sitter to make arrangements for the care of your pets. Have a back up if necessary.
* If you own a pool or spa, call your service company to find out proper water levels and types and amounts of chemicals that should be left in your pool or spa.
* Make arrangements for your mail and packages to be picked up by a friend or held by the post office.
* Have newspaper deliveries stopped or ask a friend to throw away deliveries of newspapers or circulars.
* Ask a neighbor to bring your trash barrels out to the curb on the day of trash collection.
* Arrange to have your indoor and outdoor plants watered and your lawn mowed if needed.
* Tell a friend or neighbor that you will be away and where you can be reached.
* Connect automatic timers to turn lights on and off throughout various part of your home.
* On the day you leave for vacation, turn your water heater temperature down and your air conditioner temperature up.
* A day or two before your vacation, take a few minutes to think about your daily routines and if any of them need to be addressed during your absence from home.
And, finally, have a great vacation! |
