&cropxunits=300&cropyunits=83&quality=85){kind=spacer}
Summer is here and the warmer months tend to bring more travel to local and far away destinations! If you’re planning a summer getaway, you’ll want to remember to prepare your apartment. We have detailed 6 steps you’ll want to be sure to take before leaving your home for a new adventure!
Plan for Mail
No one likes when mail piles up in their mailbox or their packages are kept sitting outside. When you book your trip, it is a good idea to have a plan in place for your mail. Ask a friend or family member to come and pick up your mail while you are away, or contact the post office to have your mail stopped or forwarded to a different address!
Clean Your Home
Before leaving for a trip, it’s a good idea to clean your home so it’s nice and tidy when you return. Dusting, vacuuming, unloading the dishwasher, and doing the laundry in the hamper before you leave creates a clean space when you return.
If you’re going to be gone for a longer time frame, plan a deeper clean before you depart. Go through the fridge to discard any perishable items or products close to their expiration date. Check to make sure open containers of food have been sealed properly to keep them fresh.
Plan for Pet or Plant Care
Arranging for the care of your plants and furry friends alike is one of the most important steps when preparing to leave your home for a trip! You’ll want to find a friend, family member, or service you trust to care for them in your absence.
Make plans you’re comfortable with! This could mean giving someone you trust a key or access to your home to water plants or pet sit. Another option, take your furry friends and plants out of your home and place them in the care of another while you’re away.
Secure Your Vehicle
This step may not apply to you if your travel plans include your vehicle. If your community doesn’t have a designed space for your car, it is advised that you contact your Community Manager to see if they know of any places you can keep your vehicle for an extended period of time. They may know the best spots around town, or you may be able to rent a space at your community for the duration of your trip.
In addition to finding a secure place for your car while you’re away, you’ll also want to remove any valuables you’ve kept inside. Check to make sure your car is locked, and all the windows have been rolled up-you never know if it may rain or snow while you are gone. If you live in a hotter climate, you may want to add a sun cover to your windshield, so your car isn’t too hot to drive upon your return.
Unplug and Save
A final step that should be taken before heading out the door for vacation is unplugging lamps, plug-in scents, and TV’s. These items will be better protected unplugged while you are away and are unable to monitor them.
While you may want to unplug some things to save on your electric bill don’t unplug everything. Items you may want to leave plugged in included a lamp on a timer, security systems, and power strips.
Enjoy!
Enjoy your trip away! You can relax and appreciate your well-deserved time away knowing that everything is taken care of at home and you have taken the proper steps in preparing your home for your absence.
When you live in an apartment home the steps you need to do to prepare are simpler – you don’t have to make plans for landscaping, snow removal, or trash pickup. Relax and enjoy your vacation stress-free!