You are 7 days from your long dreamed of high seas adventure! Chances are you are there in your mind already. Today you will prepare your house for your cruise and prep everything in your house to make sure you can leave stress free.
- Clean out fridge. You don’t want to come home to wilted lettuce and brown squishy fruit after having nothing but amazing food to eat on your cruise.
- Check all of your sprinklers to make sure everything is working.
- Make sure that all of your plant watering needs are taken care of, we like to use these terracotta plant waterers.
- Wash a set of clean sheets to come home to.
- Confirm who is picking up your mail for you or call and have USPS hold your mail.
- Put newspaper subscriptions on hold.
- Check your outdoor lights and timers.
- Set timers for indoor lights (variable settings are the best!).
- Decide on how you will set thermostats, heaters and air conditioners when you leave to conserve energy and money.
- Confirm gardeners. Overgrown grass is a sign you are out of town.
- If you do not need water to run for sprinklers, etc, consider turning off your water when you leave.
- Cancel cleaning people for dates you are traveling
- Check your video surveillance equipment, cameras, batteries, siren, wireless hook up, etc. And make sure you have the proper apps to view your home security on your phone or smart tablet.
- Inform your Neighborhood Security Patrol or Neighborhood Watch Leader of your travel plans. Or, hire a Private Security Patrol to watch your house for the time you are gone.
- Leave an extra key with a responsible neighbor or friend in case of emergency, including your car keys!
- Move important papers, jewelry or valuables to a Bank Safety Deposit Box, or to a trusted family member or friend.
- Check pool pump settings so you don’t come home to a green pool.
- Do a walkabout and check the valves under your sinks to make sure none are leaking. You still have a week to fix them!
- Check that all windows and doors lock properly. You may want to get extra window or sliding glass door security bars.
- Consider a fake TV light on a timer that gives the impression someone is home watching TV.
- Make sure you have surge protectors on all of your home computers.
EXAMPLE – Our neighbor was gone and a fire broke out at his home. His two cars were in the driveway. All of our neighbors tried to move the cars, to no avail! We knew the firetrucks would need to get in. We knew he would not only lose his home, but his cars, too. He had given a neighbor his home key but not his car keys. Who knew? It’s something your don’t even think about.
Next up: Day 6 Money and payments before, during and after your cruise