Leaving for Vacation? Don't Forget These Five Home Checks

After all the planning, packing, and counting down the days, the last thing anyone wants to think about before vacation is home maintenance. But taking a few minutes to prepare your house before you leave can help prevent unpleasant surprises when you return.

Over the years, we've seen homeowners come back from otherwise wonderful vacations to flooded basements, water damage, fallen tree limbs, and overflowing mailboxes advertising to everyone that no one was home. Fortunately, most of these problems can be avoided with a simple pre-vacation checklist.

Before you lock the door and head off to the beach, the mountains, or wherever your summer adventures take you, here are five things worth checking.

1. Turn Off Your Washing Machine Water Supply

This is one of the simplest steps you can take to prevent a potentially expensive disaster. Washing machine supply hoses are under constant pressure. Even newer hoses can fail unexpectedly, and when they do, they can release a surprising amount of water in a very short period of time.

Before leaving for an extended trip, shut off the hot and cold water valves behind the washing machine. It takes less than a minute and could save you from returning to damaged floors, drywall, and belongings. If your supply hoses are more than a few years old, consider upgrading to braided stainless steel versions for additional peace of mind.

2. Pause Deliveries and Ask a Neighbor to Keep an Eye Out

Nothing announces an empty house quite like a pile of newspapers, packages, and mail stacked on the front porch. If you'll be gone for several days, consider placing a temporary hold on your mail and pausing any regular deliveries. If that's not possible, ask a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member to collect packages and keep an eye on things while you're away. It's also helpful to leave emergency contact information with someone nearby in case an issue arises while you're gone.

3. Test Your Sump Pump

Summer thunderstorms can arrive quickly and dump a surprising amount of rain in a short period of time. If your home has a sump pump, take a few minutes to make sure it's working properly before you leave. One simple test is to slowly pour a bucket of water into the sump pit. The float should rise, the pump should activate, and the water should be discharged outside. If the pump doesn't respond, makes unusual noises, or struggles to remove water, it's worth addressing before your trip.

4. Put Your Lights on a Schedule

A dark house every night for a week can be an obvious sign that no one is home. Using timers or smart plugs to turn lights on and off during the evening can help create the appearance that the house is occupied. Focus on a few commonly used spaces such as a living room, kitchen, or front-facing room. If you have smart home technology, you can even vary the schedule remotely to make it look more natural.

5. Take a Walk Around the Yard

Before leaving, spend ten minutes walking the perimeter of your property. Look for dead tree limbs hanging over the house, driveway, vehicles, or power lines. Summer storms often bring strong winds, and weak branches can come down unexpectedly. While you're outside, secure patio umbrellas, outdoor furniture, and anything else that could become airborne during a storm. A quick inspection today may prevent damage while you're hundreds of miles away.

One More Thing: Don't Rush Out the Door

The hours before a vacation can feel hectic. There are bags to load, kids to wrangle, directions to double-check, and inevitably someone can't find their sunglasses. But before you pull out of the driveway, give yourself an extra fifteen minutes for a final walkthrough. Check windows, lock doors, verify appliances are off, and make sure these five items are covered.

A little preparation can provide a lot of peace of mind, allowing you to focus on what vacations are supposed to be about: relaxing, making memories, and enjoying time away.

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.