You've packed your bags, booked your accommodation, and you're almost out the door — but is your home actually ready for you to leave? A few small oversights before a vacation can turn into big headaches when you return. Here's what to take care of before you go, so you can truly switch off and enjoy every moment.
1. Lock every door and window — every single one
Even if the forecast looks perfect all week, don't leave anything to chance. Close and lock every door and window before you head out. A sudden summer storm can drive rain straight through an open window, and an unlocked entry is an open invitation for opportunistic burglars.
Don't forget the less obvious spots — the back door, the side entrance, the small bathroom window, or the pantry. These are exactly the ones people miss in the rush of departure. If you're leaving your car at home, lock it too, and keep the keys and documents out of sight. Leaving them on the hallway table is practically handing a thief a bonus.
2. Unplug everything you don't need running
You wouldn't unplug every device before a regular workday — but before a longer trip, it's absolutely worth doing. Unplugging chargers, small appliances, and electronics reduces the risk of electrical fires and cuts down on standby power consumption, which quietly adds to your energy bill even when devices appear to be off.
Obviously, keep the essentials running — your fridge, any security systems, and anything on a timer. Everything else? Pull the plug. You'll come home to a lower electricity bill and genuine peace of mind.
3. Leave a spare key with someone you trust
If you're away for more than a couple of days, think about who could get into your home in an emergency. Leaving a spare key with a trusted neighbor, a close friend, or a family member is one of the smartest things you can do before a trip.
It's not just about emergencies — having someone pop in occasionally to water your plants or check on the garden also makes the house look lived-in. A home that shows signs of activity is far less attractive to burglars than one that's clearly been sitting empty for days.
4. Switch off the thermostat, switch on the alarm
Before you leave, take a moment to think about which devices should be off — and which should definitely be on. Turn off the air conditioning; there's no point cooling an empty home. Set your thermostat to an energy-saving mode so it's not working overtime while you're away.
Most importantly, set your alarm system and make sure anyone who might need to enter the home — like the friend watering your plants — knows the code. If you have smart home devices you can control remotely, consider programming them to briefly turn on a light or play a sound in the evenings.
A light flickering on or a sound from inside can be enough to make a would-be intruder think twice — they can't be sure the house is empty.
5. Take care of your plants and garden before you go
If no one is coming to water your plants while you're away, prepare them in advance. Make sure each pot has enough water to last, and don't fully close the blinds on plants you know are sensitive to darkness.
Before you leave, mow the lawn. Coming home to an overgrown garden is demoralizing — but more importantly, an unkempt garden signals to passersby that nobody has been home for a while. That's not a message you want to send. If you have an automatic irrigation system, double-check that it's properly programmed before you head off.
6. Be careful what you post on social media
We all love sharing holiday moments — the stunning views, the beach cocktails, the family memories. But think carefully before you broadcast your vacation plans to the world. Check that your social media profiles are set to friends only, not visible to everyone.
Publicly posting that you're away for three weeks is essentially announcing that your home is sitting empty — and that information can reach the wrong people.
By all means share your photos — just consider doing it after you're back home, or at least limiting who can see them in real time.
7. Clear out the fridge and take out the trash
It sounds obvious, but this is one of the most commonly forgotten pre-vacation tasks. Go through your fridge before you leave. If you know you're departing in a few days, stop doing big grocery shops and instead try to use up what's already in there — cook with what you have and leave only items that will still be good when you return.
And please, take out the trash before you go. Any food scraps left in a warm, closed home will smell absolutely terrible within days — and you'll also be rolling out the welcome mat for ants. Coming home to a fresh, clean house starts with this one simple step.
Run through this checklist before every trip and you'll never have that nagging feeling mid-flight that you forgot something important. A little preparation goes a long way — and the peace of mind is worth every minute of it.
