Before you leave/while your gone:                               Back

Free to go. com/  will take care of some of these things for you.

Click here for a printable check off list

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1.  Leave a house key with someone you trust: neighbor, friend, or relative.

1a. Have them: pick up mail, turn lights on at night etc. make it look like your home.

1b. About that Mail, have the Post Office hold it. Click Here for more information.

1c. You might want to notify your local police if your house will be empty for awhile.

2.  Stop newspaper etc. Nothing says I'm not here more then a lot of newspapers on

your lawn, porch etc. Also make sure someone picks up those "throw-away"

newspapers & circulars we find on our lawns every once in a while.

3.  Remove all perishables from refrigerator: If you lose power, while you away,

you could come back to a real mess.

4.  Unplug any unnecessary appliances: let's not take a chance of fire.

5.  Make sure someone back home can get in touch with you. (One of the girls from

France got an emergency telegram that her father had a stroke. She got home in

time to see him before he died. He had cancer but the stroke killed him.) We never

know.

6.  Let's not forget that little goldfish in Bobby's room. (Make arrangements for our pets.)

7.  While we're on the subject what about our plants.

8.  Make sure all bills etc. that will come due while we are gone are paid. We sure

wouldn't want to spend April in Paris without  filing our taxes before we left.

9.  Make sure there is enough in your checking account to cover any preauthorized debits.

10. Avoid letting to many people you'll be gone for an extended period. How well

do you really know that new guy in the shipping? I know vacations are exciting

and we enjoy talking about where we're going but sadly everybody we tell might

not be honest or may tell someone else. "Joe. You remember bob, he had that

party last summer. Oh! come on, he had that keg of beer."  "That's right, that's where

you met Patty. Well he's going to Thailand for a month, I bet he has a great time, I

wish I could afford to go someplace exciting. I have to settle for the Jersey Shore."

Guess what? Now people you might not even remember know your house is

empty. Brag about your trip when you get back.

11. If your going in winter, how about your plumbing? If you get an Ice storm & the

power lines go, will your pipes freeze & burst. Why take a chance. Turn off

waterlines coming into the house. In fact why not just turn it off anyway. Pipes can

burst or leak for other reasons & if were not there for an extended period even a small

leak could cause a lot of damage.

12. Turn of any gas lines coming into your home. God forbid a pilot light goes out with no

body around to smell the gas. How much gas could build up during a two week

vacation? I don't think I'd like to find out.

13. Your car? Will it be alright sitting in your driveway the entire time your gone.

14. Many police departments offer free security evaluations of your property. When calling

your precinct ask for the crime prevention officer.

15. Lower the sound of your telephone ringer and answering machine so they can't be

heard outside.

16. Arrange to have your lawn mowed in summer and your walk and driveway

shoveled in winter.

17. What about your gutters, are they clear of leaves or other obstructions? This could

cause a big problem if you get heavy rains while your away especially if the

temperature is below freezing.

18. The Insurance Information Institute has a site here that will give you some good ideas.