If you’re like me, the days before a vacation are a blur of laundry, packing, and triple-checking flight times. But mixed in with the excitement, there’s one more thing I always make time for—making sure our home is ready to sit safely and securely while we’re away.
Because nothing takes the shine off a trip faster than coming home to a burst pipe, a break-in, or that mysterious smell coming from the kitchen.
Over the years, I’ve created my own checklist—not just the basics everyone tells you, but also the clever little tricks that most people don’t think about. Today, I’m sharing both so you can head out the door with peace of mind.
The Basics: Home Security & Safety
These are the tried-and-true steps you’ll see on almost every list, and for good reason:
- Lock everything — doors, windows, gates, and yes, even the garage.
- Charge any outdoor or indoor cameras. We recently got this camera, and I love the crystal clear image and alerts I get from it.
- Set interior and exterior lights on timers so the house looks lived-in. Inside, I use these smart plugs to set lights on a random schedule or even manually turn on things like radios to make it sound like someone’s home.
- Pause your mail and deliveries or have a neighbor collect them.
- Unplug small appliances like coffee makers and hair tools to avoid fire hazards.
- Adjust your thermostat — around 55°F in winter, 78°F in summer — to save energy but still protect your home. We use this thermostat to monitor and adjust our house’s temperature when we’re away.
- Arm your security system and make sure the monitoring company knows you’ll be away.
The Clever & Less-Obvious Tips
Here’s where it gets interesting—the little things that make a big difference but rarely make it into the mainstream lists. These might be overkill for some, but it gives me peace of mind!
1. Stage Your Home Like You Never Left
- Leave a half-full laundry basket on the bed or a blanket draped over the couch—tiny clues that the home is occupied.
- Use fake TV lights—small, energy-efficient devices that mimic the flicker of a television in the evenings.
2. Protect Your Digital Life
- Change your Wi-Fi password temporarily to add an extra layer of protection to your smart home devices.
- Turn off “always listening” features on smart assistants (like Alexa Drop-In) if you won’t be using them remotely.
- Avoid posting images on social media from your vacation until you get back.
3. Water Worries—Solved
- If you can’t shut off the main water line, turn off just the washing machine valves. My parents once have pipes freeze and explore when they were away, and this tip has stayed with me.
- In cold weather, open the cabinet doors under sinks to keep pipes from freezing.
- Add these water sensors under your sinks. When they detect any bit of moisture, you’ll get an alert to your phone.
4. Fool Even the Observant
- Randomize your smart light timers so they don’t click on at the exact same time every night. I use these smart plugs for our lights.
- Keep calendars with your vacation dates out of sight from windows—no need to announce your absence.
- Ask a neighbor to park their car in your driveway.
5. Neighbor Network
- Leave a sealed envelope with your trip details and a spare key with a trusted neighbor in case of emergency. For a smart home option, we like these keypad locks to unlock doors remotely.
- Ask a neighbor to roll your trash bins to the curb and back—a subtle but powerful “we’re home” signal.
6. Appliances & Airflow
- Empty and unplug anything with water or crumbs (coffee maker, air fryer) to avoid mold or smells.
- Run and empty the dishwasher before leaving. Leave the door open to avoid musty smells.
- Leave interior doors open so the air circulates and the house doesn’t get musty.
7. Document Before You Dash
- Do a quick video walkthrough of your home before leaving. If something happens, you’ll have proof for insurance.
- Update your home inventory list for valuables.
The Bottom Line
Taking a little extra time to prep your home before you leave can mean coming back to exactly the way you left it—minus the piles of laundry you packed. Some of these tips take just seconds, but they can save you a huge headache later.
Whether you’re heading to the beach for a week or jetting off for a month-long adventure, combining the standard safety measures with a few of these clever tricks will give you the best of both worlds: peace of mind and a home that’s ready to welcome you back.
