Before you leave for vacation, it is easy to focus on packing bags, checking flights, and getting out the door on time. But a quick 15-minute walk-through of your home can help prevent small problems from becoming big ones while you are away.
Start in the kitchen. Take out the trash, run the garbage disposal, and toss food that may spoil before you return. A few minutes here can help you avoid odors, pests, and an unpleasant surprise when you walk back in.
Next, check for water risks. Make sure faucets are fully off, look under sinks for visible leaks, and consider turning off the water supply to appliances like the washing machine if you will be gone for several days. Water damage can happen quickly, especially when no one is home to notice it.
Then, walk through the house and unplug nonessential electronics, adjust the thermostat, lock windows and doors, and make sure the garage door is secure. Use timers or smart lights so your home does not look empty.
One often-overlooked step is to give a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member your insurance agency’s contact information before you leave. If they are checking on your home and notice something unusual — a broken window, storm damage, water coming from under a door, a fallen tree limb, or signs of a break-in — they should know who to call.
That does not mean your neighbor has to handle the claim for you. It simply gives them a direct way to alert someone who can help guide the next steps, reach you if needed, and help reduce delays when time matters.
Before vacation, leave your emergency contact information, your agency’s phone number, and any basic instructions with someone you trust. A good neighbor can spot a problem. A good plan helps make sure the right people are contacted quickly.
Vacation should be relaxing. This simple checklist can help you leave with more confidence — and come home to fewer surprises.
About the Author
Arthur is an insurance professional who has been around long enough to know that “just in case” is usually good advice.
Some might call this vacation checklist old-school. He prefers to call it “Ol’ Dad wisdom” — the kind of stuff that sounds obvious until you forget to do it and come home to a mess.
When he is not helping clients think through coverage, claims, and risk, Arthur enjoys reminding people to turn off the hose, lock the back door, and leave the agency phone number with a neighbor before heading out of town. Because sometimes the best insurance advice starts with, “Did you check that before you left?”
Disclaimer
AI helped me write this, but the “Ol’ Dad” reminders are all mine. Blame the checklist on experience, not the robot.
