Get Your Apartment Ready For Your Summer Vacation
Woohoo! It's summer vacation time! If you haven't noticed, the weather is getting warmer (though sometimes I wonder if it will stay that way), and the sun is staying up longer!
Before you pack your bags for summer travel, there are a few steps you might want to take to make sure you have peace of mind while on that fantastic vacation. Below, I am going to give you some tips on how to prep your apartment before leaving...
1. Pay Your Rent and Utilities Up Front
Once you are on vacation enjoying the thrills of summer, that's not the time to realize that you forgot to pay some critical bills before leaving home. Don't let this happen!
Before you start your adventure, pay your rent, utilities, and other necessary bills. Or, set them up on some form of automatic payment system. Either way, you'll be able to kick back, enjoying the the sunshine without any sudden panics that add stress.
2. Tell Your Apartment Manager That You Are Leaving
If you let your apartment management know that you are going on vacation, when you're leaving, and for how long you'll be gone, they can jump on any issues that might come up without having to wait. For example, if there's a maintenance emergency or you receive a package left at your door, the apartment staff will know to handle it.
3. Take Care of Your Mail
Speaking of packages left at your door, do you know in advance about any specific mail that will arrive while you are away? You can ask a trusted friend or neighbor to collect and set aside any mail that comes for you. You can also place a hold on your mail at the post office until you get home.
4. Take Out Your Trash
Yuck, you definitely don't want stinky garbage sitting around your apartment while you're gone. That can be one nasty surprise when you get home and walk through the door. To make sure this doesn't happen to you, be sure to empty all your trash bins before you leave.
5. Set Your Thermostat Appropriately
There is no point to maintaining comfortable temperatures in your apartment when you are not around to enjoy the comfort. Keeping the space warm in the winer or cool in the summer will just add to your expense. So before you leave, prepare to save some money by setting your thermostat to a setting that you might not otherwise enjoy. This way your heating and cooling will run less often. After you do this, shut your blinds or curtains on all your windows.
6. Make Sure Everything is Unplugged
Here's another way to save some more money while you're on vacation... Take a look at all your electonics plugged into electrical outlets. It's a good idea to unplug all non-essential devices while you are away.
You should certainly unplug your television, computer, and all your small kitchen appliances. While you are at it, make sure your stove is not on, your refrigerator door is snuggly closed, and all your lights are turned off!
7. Lock Doors and Windows
For your finishing touch, be sure to do a final check of your entire apartment, making sure that all your doors and windows are locked. Finally, secure the entryway door as you depart.
Before you head out for that much-needed vacation this summer, I hope this brief checklist helps you be certain that your apartment will stay in great condition while you are away, and will be a pleasure to return to when your vacation is done. You'll have peace of mind because you won't have to give it another thought.
Have a great time!