Vacation! Just the word brings a smile to your face. It represents a time of rest and relaxation away from the hustle and bustle of work and everyday life. It’s an opportunity to spend time with your family and to create new memories that will last a lifetime. But before you can enjoy your well-deserved vacation, here is a list of things you need to do before leaving:
Clean Your House
A messy house is the last thing you want to come home to after a relaxing vacation. Spend a day or two cleaning every nook and cranny so that you can come home to a clean and welcoming house. You should wash your sheets, curtains, and towels, vacuum and dust all surfaces, clean the bathrooms, wash dishes, and take out the trash. Moreover, you should look if any of your food will likely expire while you’re gone. Using it up or giving it away is better than coming home to a fridge full of spoiled food. If you have time, consider doing a deep clean a week or two before you leave so that all you have to do when you come home is maintain the cleanliness.
Maintain Your Lawn
Maintaining your lawn before you leave is important because it will keep your home looking nice and tidy. Not only will this help you avoid any issues with your local homeowner’s association (HOA), but this will also make it appear that someone is home. If you leave with an unkempt yard, burglars will quickly figure out that nobody’s home. Overgrown bushes can also provide them with cover if they try to sneak in. That’s why you should trim all bushes and hedges so that they’re no higher than three feet, and ensure your grass is cut short. Aside from these, you should also consider trimming your trees. This would prevent any broken branches from causing damage to your property if they were to fall while you’re gone. But if you don’t want to accidentally cut too much, it’s better to get professionals to do this task. You can hire tree trimming services that take care of your trees and ensure their branches are not blocking your windows, hitting your sidings, and are at the right height.
Pay Your Bills and Take Care of Commitments
Nothing puts a damper on a vacation like returning home to a pile of overdue bills. Make sure your bills are paid before you leave so that you can return to a stress-free household. This includes utilities, credit cards, mortgage/rent, car payments, etc. Moreover, if you have any outstanding commitments, take care of them before leaving for vacation. This may include appointments, project deadlines at work, scheduling someone to watch your pet, etc. The last thing you want is to worry about commitments while you’re supposed to be relaxing on vacation.
Pack For Your Trip
Make sure you pack everything you need for your trip, so you don’t have to worry about forgetting anything important. This includes clothes, toiletries, chargers, medications, and travel documents. It can be tempting to want to bring everything with you “just in case,” but try not to overpack for your trip. You’ll end up with heavier or more luggage than you really need and might only tire yourselves out as you transport your stuff across your vacation. This will be challenging, especially if you’ll be visiting multiple locations. Try packing versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched, so you don’t have to bring too much. When it comes to travel documents, double-check that all of them are in order. This includes passports, visas, and driver’s licenses. By doing this ahead of time, you can avoid forgetting anything and have plenty of time to double-check if you packed all that you need.
Say Goodbye To Friends & Family
If you’re leaving town for an extended period, make sure to say goodbye to your loved ones before leaving. This will let them know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone. If you spoke to a friend or neighbor about keeping an eye on your house, make sure you also thank and say goodbye to them before you go. This will show that you appreciate their help and trust them to take care of your home while you’re away.
Once your to-do list is checked off, it’s time to enjoy the anticipation of finally being able to go on vacation. Whether taking a beach trip, visiting family, or exploring a new city, vacations are a time to recharge and rejuvenate. So kick back, put your feet up, and let the excitement build until it’s finally time to head out on your adventure.
