Planning to get away this summer? Whether the warmer weather means camping over a long weekend, taking a week to hang at the beach, or spending a long stay at a location much farther away, when you come home you want the place to be as you left it. Vacations are supposed to be a time to rest, relax, and have some fun. The last thing you want is to lose all that quality down time walking through the door to find a catastrophe has hit your home.

Accidents may be out of your hands, but there are steps you can take to help ensure your home and possessions remain safe and sound while you’re away. As you pack your bags, consider these following tips before you lock up and leave your home behind.

Summer Vacation Home Safety Tips

Unplug: 

Just as you should power down your screen and gadget time while on vacay, so you should unplug appliances and electronics in your home. Doing so can help you save money on electricity, as even appliances that are turned off can draw energy when plugged in. Additionally, unplugging can prevent electrical based fires should the electronic or appliance malfunction, come in contact with water, or go unprotected from a surge during a lightning storm.

Prevent pipe problems:

It may be summer, but if you live in a colder region where nights can still get chilly, or if the weather is just unseasonably cold, your pipes could still be at risk for freezing. Make sure pipes are properly insulated. If you know a cold snap may be moving in, program your thermostat to have the heat turn on below temperatures in the low 60s.

Check the weather:

As well as watching for incoming cold weather, check the weather for rain and storms. If Mother Nature plans to pour while you’re away, clean the gutters, check to make sure your sump pump is in working order, and repair any cracks in the foundation and roof. It may add more to your pre-vacation to-do list, but doing the work now will allow you peace of mind when trying to relax later.

Catalog possessions:

If you don’t already have a personal possession inventory for your home, create one before you leave. Using the video feature on your smartphone, record a home inventory of the valuable items in your home, including electronics, appliances, jewelry, collectibles, and anything else of which your insurance company would want record. Keep a video file on your computer and one copy in a cloud-based storage for easy access.

Thwart theft:

An empty home can be like an open invitation for burglars to come in and take what’s yours. Don’t announce you’re headed out of town on social media. And wait to post all your awesome vacation pics until you get home. Also, put a hold on mail delivery as a stuffed mailbox is a clue no one is home. If you’re expecting package deliveries, put those on hold, or ask a neighbor or friend to pick them up for you. If you’re leaving town for longer than a week, leave a spare key with a trustworthy friend and notify the police department of the extended dates you’ll be out of town.

Maintain the lawn: 

Hire landscapers, a neighbor kid, or a friend to cut the grass if you’re going to be away for more than a long weekend. This helps make the home look lived in while you are away. It lets someone check on the house and notify you of any potential concerns while you are away.

Did You Come Home to a Property Disaster?

No matter how prepared you are, a property disaster while you are away may still occur. But do not worry! Our McMahon Services and Construction crews are available 24/7 to dispatch to your Northern Illinois home or business location for emergency fire and water restoration, sewage cleanup services and black mold removal service. We will clean up and restore your property to pre-loss conditions in no time!

We offer FREE estimates in our Chicago, Arlington Heights, Berwyn, Des Plaines, Evanston, Mount Prospect, Grayslake, Mundelein, Libertyville, Oak Park, Palatine, Wheaton, Naperville, Waukegan, Schaumburg, Skokie, and surrounding IL service areas.