How do you keep your home safe when you’re on vacation? This is the checklist of tips and hacks I use when I’m gone for more than a day or two. They’re designed to fool potential burglars into thinking someone is home, let you know whether the power failed while you were busy sipping Margaritas, and increase the chance you return to a home that is in the same shape it was when you left.
Quick Vacation Home Security Checklist
Short on time? Run through this checklist before you lock the front door.
2–4 Weeks Before You Leave
- □ Put your mail on hold with USPS.
- □ Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to keep an eye on your home.
- □ Schedule lawn care or snow removal if needed.
- □ Install or test your video doorbell or home security system.
- □ Freeze a cup of water with a penny on top to check for freezer power outages.
The Day Before You Leave
- □ Set indoor lights on timers or smart schedules.
- □ Store valuables out of sight or in a safe.
- □ Remove your spare key from its outdoor hiding place.
- □ Stop or redirect package deliveries, or ask a neighbor to collect them.
- □ Throw away perishable food and empty the trash.
- □ Unplug unnecessary small appliances.
- □ Turn off water to appliances if you’ll be away for an extended trip.
- □ Leave a car in the driveway, if possible, to make the house look occupied.
While You’re Away
- □ Resist posting vacation photos on social media until you return.
- □ Check your video doorbell or security app occasionally.
- □ Stay in touch with your neighbor in case anything unusual happens.
A Vacation Shouldn’t Come with a Worry List
I love to travel. What I don’t love is wondering whether everything is okay back home while I’m gone.
Over the years, I’ve developed this simple checklist. I run through it before every trip longer than a day or two. Some of these ideas help make the house look occupied. Others reduce the risk of damage from power outages or water leaks. And a few simply make it easier to relax because I know I’ve done everything I reasonably can before locking the front door.
Up to One Month Before Your Vacation
1. Put the Mail on a Vacation Hold
Nothing announces “We’re on vacation!” like an overflowing mailbox.
The free USPS Mail Hold service lets you pause deliveries for up to 30 days before your trip. I use it every time I travel. It’s easy to schedule online, and if your plans change, you can update the dates.
I’m also signed up for USPS Informed Delivery. It’s also free. The US Post Office sends me a daily email showing images of the mail slated for delivery that day so I know what’s waiting for me when I return.
2. Put a Penny in the Freezer
This old trick can tell you whether your freezer lost power while you were away — an increasingly important bit of information in our time of unpredictable weather, severe storms and widespread power outages.
Here’s how it works:
- Fill a cup with about an inch of water and freeze it.
- Place a penny on top of the frozen ice.
- Leave the cup in the freezer.
If you return and the penny has sunk to the bottom, your freezer thawed long enough for the food to melt before refreezing. It’s a simple way to know whether frozen food is still safe to eat.
3. Ask a Trusted Neighbor to Keep an Eye Out
My terrific neighbors are my best home security system.
Ask someone you trust to:
- Pick up packages
- Move flyers or newspapers
- Check for anything unusual
- Contact you if something looks off
4. Install a Video Doorbell
We’ve all seen videos that show the wonder of a Ring Doorbell capturing a neighborhood crime. Installing one before you leave on vacation is the key to peace of mind.
It allows you to:
- Receive instant motion alerts on your phone
- Talk with visitors remotely
- Monitor deliveries
- Capture suspicious activity
Some even allow you to unlock the door. This feature is especially helpful if you have someone coming over to walk the dog or feed the cats.
5. Consider a Smart Home Security System
If you travel frequently, a professionally monitored security system may be worth the investment.
Systems include features such as:
- Indoor and outdoor cameras
- Smart locks
- Garage door controls
- Thermostat controls
- Mobile apps for remote monitoring
- 24/7 professional monitoring
Bonus Travel Safety Tip
Sponsored by Medjet.
ust like it’s smart to buy insurance to protect your car and your house, it’s smart to protect yourself when you travel. Travel insurance is a good start, but it’s only part of the safety net. If you get seriously sick or injured and end up in the hospital far from home, you’ll want a reliable plan to get back to your doctor and your hospital at home.
That’s where a Medjet global air medical transport membership comes in. Chances are low you will ever need to use it, but if you do, it’s priceless. The medevac benefits of travel insurance only get you to the “nearest adequate” hospital, and I don’t want to be stuck in a hospital far from home. That’s why I enrolled in Medjet before my trip to Africa. And, because my husband and I have more international travel planned later this year, I bought the annual family plan that costs $425.
It feels like a pittance to pay for the security of knowing that if one of us gets sick or injured on a trip, Medjet will:
- Bring us home to our local hospital.
- Provide translation services if one of us gets sick or injured in a foreign country.
- Fly us home in an ICU-equipped aircraft, if needed, or a business class seat when intensive care isn’t required.
A medical transport from Africa can cost $250,000 or more. But, as members, Medjet would make all the arrangements and pay that bill, which means $425 is a deal.
I hope I never need to use it. But, just as I know it’s smart to have homeowners insurance – I’ve never needed to use that either! – I know it’s smart to have a Medjet membership just in case.
6. Put Lights on Timers
Buy a couple of smart bulbs or timers that will turn a few lamps on and off throughout the evening.
You can opt to leave a light or two burning 24 hours a day, but if someone is watching the house, they won’t be fooled into thinking someone is home. That requires different lights that turn on and off just as they would if someone actually was at home.
7. Tend to the Appliances
- Washer: Leave the lid/door open to let the basin dry completely. Chances are you’ll have plenty of laundry to do upon your return, so you’ll want the washer to be empty and fresh. And don’t forget to disconnect or turn off the unit’s water supply if you’ll be gone for an extended period.
- Refrigerator: Consume or discard any perishables before you leave. No one wants to come home to the smell of spoiled milk.
- Garbage Disposal: Run a cycle to clean the unit and prevent odors from any food buildup hiding beneath the drain. Add a cup of vinegar to your rinse for an extra-deep clean.
8. Leave a Car in the Driveway
If you have a driveway, don’t leave it empty.
If you don’t have a second car, ask the neighbors if they would like to use it while you’re gone. That’s what my next-door neighbors used to do when they were off on one of their many adventures. We never had a driveway, so we loved the chance to park there and have a shorter trip to the door on grocery day!
9. Hide the Valuables
It won’t matter how tightly you’ve locked up the house if you leave a laptop or other valuables sitting out in plain sight. It can prove too tempting for someone who will break that window and take them.
10. Remove Your Hidden Spare Key
If your emergency key is tucked under a flowerpot or fake rock, bring it inside before your trip.
Experienced thieves know all the common hiding places.
11. Unplug Small Appliances
Before heading out, unplug appliances such as:
- Coffee makers
- Toasters
- Microwaves
- Irons
- Other small electronics
It will reduce energy use and help protect against damage from power surges.
12. Keep Up with Lawn Care or Snow Removal
Nothing says “Nobody’s home” quite like an overgrown lawn or an untouched snow-covered driveway.
Arrange for:
- Lawn mowing
- Leaf removal
- Snow shoveling
13. Wait to Post Vacation Photos
I admit this is the hardest tip for me.
It’s tempting to post those beach sunsets and amazing meals in real time. But broadcasting that you’re hundreds of miles away also lets everyone know your house is empty.
Whenever possible, save the vacation photos for after you get home.
14. Ask Someone to Drive By Occasionally
Even with your mail on hold, your house is likely to collect flyers, door hangers or other handouts while you’re gone.
Ask a friend, neighbor or family member to stop by every few days to:
- Remove anything left at the front door
- Check for storm damage
- Make sure nothing looks unusual
It’s one more layer of protection, and another reason you can relax while you’re away.
Use timers or smart lights, put your mail on hold, arrange for lawn care or snow removal, leave a car in the driveway if possible and ask a trusted neighbor to pick up packages and check on your home.
It’s generally safer to wait until you return home. Real-time social media posts can signal that your house is empty.
Yes. A smart video doorbell lets you monitor deliveries, receive motion alerts, communicate with visitors and keep an eye on your front door from anywhere in the world.
Unplug small appliances such as coffee makers, toasters, microwaves and irons. If you’ll be gone for an extended time, consider turning off water supplies to appliances that could leak.
Freeze about an inch of water in a small cup, place a penny on top of the ice and leave it in your freezer. Check the cup when you return. If the penny is now at the bottom of the ice, it likely means you lost power when you were traveling long enough for food in the freezer to thaw and refreeze, which may mean it’s no longer safe to eat.
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