Are you a new homeowner and not quite sure what to do when you leave for vacation? Don’t worry, I’ll share several tips for you that will help you enjoy your vacation and ensure that it’s hassle free. Leaving your house empty and unprepared could lead to theft, mold, or water damage. Here’s what you can do:
- Give your neighbors a heads up. Let them know you’ll be out of town and have them keep their eyes open for you. If you have a good relationship with them, you might want to consider giving them an extra set of keys in case of an emergency.
- Keep your air conditioning on auto and at 78 degrees. This will ensure moisture is being sucked out of the air and will keep the mold away.
- Motion sensor lighting is a good idea. If someone walks up to the front or back of your house, the lights will turn on and spook an unwanted guest. You also could install timers on your lights inside so that each evening they turn on for a few hours, giving the impression that someone is home.
- Turn off all the water into the house at the main shut-off valve. The last thing you need is a pipe to break and flood your house while you’re away. It takes about 2 seconds to turn off the valve, so please do this!
- Windows need to be locked as well as all doors – and don’t forget about your sliders either! Make sure all access points to your home are secured prior to you heading out of town.
- Don’t let newspapers and mail pile up. Newspapers piling up at the front door or driveway is a dead giveaway that no one is home. Also, if your mailbox is overflowing, it’s obvious no one is around – plus it’s a nuisance for the mail delivery person. Ask the post office to hold it or have a neighbor collect it for you.
- Hire a home watch company. This is especially important if you’re going to be gone for several weeks or months. It’s important to have someone check on your home to make sure there’s no water leaks and that the air conditioning is working. If your A/C goes out, you’ll come home to a house full of mold – not good!
- Keep the landscaping and grass trimmed every week. Keeping up a tidy appearance will not only make your neighbors happy, it will fool thieves.
Take these simple steps before you go on vacation, and it will be stress free for you!
Gabe Mellein was voted a Top Real Estate Agent – Exceptional in Service and Overall Satisfaction by Gulfshore Life Magazine in 2012. He is the broker of Gulf Pointe Properties, Inc and has over 8 years experience in the SW Florida Real Estate Market. He is a member of The Naples Area Board of Realtors, Bonita Springs – Estero Association of Realtors, Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach, The Florida Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors, and is nationally certified in Feng Shui for Real Estate. Need real estate help? Please contact Gabe at: 239.825.2234, Gabe@GulfPointeProperties.com or www.GulfPointeProperties.com
