1. It's days before vacation and you can't wait to finish work, and head out to enjoy your hard-earned time off. But before you rush out, think about home. You don't want to wake up in your hotel room, wondering whether you turned out the lights and turned off the oven. If you're someone prone to forget, walk through the entire house to make sure every loose end is tied up.2. Hire someone to mow the lawn and water the plants. Landscapers can charge between $25 to $50 for weekly maintenance. If the price for professional service is too high, try to find a neighborhood kid looking to earn a little spending money. Make sure he or she is trained to use your lawn equipment and that they have a key to lock up the equipment when they're done.
3. Ask a neighbor to check on things, pick up leaflets and collect unexpected deliveries. Give them a key, your alarm code and emergency contact numbers. Have them walk through the house once or twice to make sure everything is in working order. If neighbors aren't available, find a relative or close friend to watch the house while you're gone.
4. Provide detailed written instructions for the care and feeding of your animals including the number of the vet. If you're kenneling your pet, do plenty of homework before you leave. Visit the kennel to make sure it's clean, the animals are happy and your pet is comfortable. Speak with the kennel staff to make sure they're professional and familiar with the feeding habits and general needs of your pet, which can be breed-specific.
5. Piled-up newspapers and magazines give the impression that the homeowner isn't home. It's a cue to burglars that the place is empty and ripe for picking. Remember to stop delivery before you leave.
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