Home Alone

Whether you’re heading out on a long trip or to your vacation home for winter, here’s how to get your house in shape before you leave.

BY HALEY SHAPLEY

WHEN IT COMES TO PLANNING for an extended vacation, the excitement of leaving is one of the best parts—but the anticipation of having to get your house ready for your absence is a little less enjoyable. It’s important, though, because to have a good time while you’re gone, you want to feel confident that everything’s fine back on the home front.

STRESS LESS WITH THIS VACATION-IS-IMMINENT CHECKLIST

Clean out the fridge. Make a plan for perishable food items, ideally incorporating them into dinner recipes in the days leading up to your departure or freezing them. Compost or toss anything else.

Pay attention to your plants. Depending on how long you’re gone and what kind of plants you have, they may be able to wait for their next drop to drink until you get back. If not, line up someone to give them a little water.

Stop the mail. A pile of packages or unread newspapers on your front stoop is not a signal you want to send, so put your deliveries on temporary hold or ask a neighbor to make a daily pickup.

Consider smart home gadgets. There’s an array of technology that allows you to control and monitor your home, no matter how far you roam. Lights, thermostats, cameras, and alarms can all be made “smart.”

Turn off the water. If the house is going to be empty, you can shut off the main water valve so that you don’t have to worry about an unattended leak.

Take out the trash. Right before you go, dispose of any trash—you don’t want to attract any critters while you’re gone or deal with the stench that will build over time.

Tidy up. In a last-minute flurry of packing, it can be tempting to leave your house in disarray. Make time to put things in order before you go—you’ll instantly feel more relaxed when you return, helping those vacation vibes last just a bit longer.

WINTER IS COMING

In colder climates, there are extra considerations for getting your house through the winter season, even if you don’t have a vacation on the horizon. Here are five ways to winter-proof your home:

Clean your gutters of debris.

Have your fireplace inspected before the season begins.

Flush your hot-water heater to help it run efficiently.

Program your thermostat to maintain a reasonable temperature even when you’re gone so pipes don’t freeze.

Add weather stripping on all of your home’s doors and windows.