If you're local to Tucson, you know that this is the time of year folks tend to hit the road. Most of our winter residents are long gone, for good reason. If you can beat the heat by planning a vacation, why not? Maybe you're going to take a long weekend on Mount Lemmon, or a few days in the White Mountains, or a longer break in much cooler San Diego. More power to you! Vacation planning is fun--executing your escape, however, can be stressful if you don't plan ahead.
Taking care of your home while you're gone is the key issue. After all, for most of us, our homes are the single most important investment we have. Maybe there have been a spate of break-ins in your area. Maybe monsoon season is in full swing and you're nervous about property damage while you're away. Maybe you heard about your buddy who had a burst water pipe and thousands of dollars of damage while they were gone. Take a breath, think ahead, and check out our ideas for managing those risks.
1.) Correct any big deferred maintenance if possible. If you know you have an active roof leak, this is not the time to leave town without correcting it, especially as we head deeper into monsoon season. Temporary fixes (looking at you, tarp and bricks on our neighbor's house!) are not a good idea, even if you have someone checking on the house for you. If something happens while you're gone, sure, that neighbor picking up your mail could help coordinate emergency repairs...but do you really want to interrupt your vacation to get quotes, send payment information, and all the rest? Yes, some roof repairs can be costly. Leaving the repairs until the damage gets worse is even more expensive.
2.) Decide what utilities need to remain on and which you can turn off. If it's a cooler time of year or you won't be gone long, you can turn off the water at the street to prevent unexpected water leaks. However, if you're concerned about damaging your outdoor landscaping by not watering, you will need to leave the water on, especially if you have timed irrigation. In that case, it is important to have someone checking the inside of your property regularly. At the very least, we suggest shutting off the water inside wherever you can--the water line to your refrigerator, the washing machine, sink valves, the water heater, and toilets. Why borrow trouble? Just keep a checklist of what you turned off to save yourself frustration when you return.
Turning off the electricity and/or gas is probably not a good idea, unless you're going to be gone more than a month or so. Here in Southern Arizona, you should be safe turning your air conditioning up to 82 degrees in the summer (mainly to combat humidity) and your heat down to 50 degrees in the winter. If you have an evaporative cooler, however, why leave it running and risk roof damage if something gets clogged and starts to leak? For winter travel, make sure you've done all you would if you had a freeze warning (wrapping your pipes, plants, and pool equipment).
3.) Secure your home. Broken window? Fix it! Flimsy lock on the sliding door easy to jimmy from the outside? Probably a good idea to replace it. If you have an evaporative cooler that needs windows or doors cracked open a bit to work best, make sure you have installed and are using those pin-locks that will secure them open an inch. Get a good padlock for your gate and check over any storage sheds or carport storage for problems.
4.) Beef up your home security with techniques you should already be using. For example, those shrubs that are overgrown and blocking your neighbors' view of your front door or windows mark your home as an attractive target for burglars, because they hide anyone with nefarious purposes. Trim them back! Motion-activated outdoor lights (not aimed at your neighbor's windows, please) are another low-cost idea.
Ring doorbells and other home security systems are also useful for when you're gone. Home security system stickers and "beware of dog" signs might also give intruders a long enough pause for them to reconsider if it's worth it to break in.
Use exterior doors that make it harder to break into your home. Solid-core doors are a must, and choose doors that do not have a glass window built-in. Upgrade your door hardware to use a deadbolt--be aware, not all brands are created equal!
Do not hide a key outside on your property. There is a reason that professional REALTORS® use robust lockboxes and contractor boxes when we list a property for sale! You may think you're being sneaky hiding a key under a rock or flowerpot, but a pro is going to look for the easy way in first.
5.) Prevent break-ins by making your house look lived-in. Pause newspaper delivery. Make sure your mail is on hold for up to 30 days by signing up at https://www.usps.com/manage/hold-mail.htm. If you're going to be gone longer than 30 days, you will need to use a mail-forwarding service instead. This is generally reliable, however, it is still wise to have someone checking your mailbox regularly, especially if you have a mailbox at the curb instead of a lockbox. Flyers, landscaping solicitations, and other papers sitting outside in your driveway or stuck to your door practically advertise your absence, so ask a neighbor to check your property whenever they receive the same.
Don't leave your trash cans at the curb! Either keep them stowed away while you're gone, or, even better, have someone take the cans up and down on trash days for you.
Use timers to turn on lamps and possibly a radio for parts of the evening.
See if your neighbor is willing to park in your driveway while you're gone. If you're leaving your own vehicle and it must be in the driveway, remove any valuables, keys, and garage door openers to prevent someone from breaking into your car and also gaining access to your home.
If you're going to be gone long enough to notice, have someone still take care of your yard. Let the irrigation timers run as usual, have someone weed or mow visible areas, and don't let leaves or wind-blown waste pile up outside.
6.) Prevent nasty surprises when you return. Make sure you haven't left any trash in the house before you leave, especially kitchen trash. Don't forget to empty your coffee grounds! Cleaning out the fridge and pantry is a good idea, too, to prevent nasty odors. Clean the bathrooms to keep mold and odors at bay, especially if the house is going to be warmer than usual while you're gone.
If you have any true valuables in your home, consider moving them for the time being. If you keep emergency cash in the house, it's time to deposit it in the bank; you can always take it back out when you return. Jewelry and other small valuables could be moved to a safe deposit box or even a small, hidden safe in the home. A fire safe is a good idea for important documents such as birth certificates, insurance policies, and more.
While you won't want to turn the power off completely, do a quick check of any vulnerable electronics in the house. Unplug any TVs or computers, for example, so that if you have a lightning surge, they won't be fried.
Make sure your utility bills are up to date for extended absences. These days, many of us have automatic payments for our utilities, but if you don't, check your usual due dates and make a prepayment if necessary.
7.) Don't tell everyone you're leaving! So many friends on social media post pictures and videos from their vacations...while they are out of town! Yes, you may only have actual people you know on your "friends" list, but every now and then Facebook will do an update and your privacy settings can get reset unexpectedly. There are also too many of us who have "friends" that we don't know in real life. Similarly, don't put a note on your door instructing deliveries to be taken next door. Let local family and a couple of really trusted neighbors know you're gone, and maybe also contact your police department if they keep a list of vacationing residents, but that should be about it.
None of us can prevent every possible problem while travelling. Sometimes, though, a little forethought can reduce your anxiety ahead of time. Safe travels!