Are you going on a long holiday for your anniversary or a vacation you’ve promised yourself you’d have ever since college? Or maybe your job requires you to relocate for a while because of operational needs. Either way, if you’ve come to this article, you’re likely about to leave your house for an extended time, and you might be wondering what needs to be done to make sure you don’t return to a ruined place full of stacked bills. Here are some things you should settle before making your leave.
Get your utilities and monthly services suspended.
Make sure you ask for a temporary suspension of all your utility services; otherwise, you’ll still be billed for your internet, electricity, heating, and water even if the house is empty for months. If you know exactly how long you’ll be gone, request a temporary cut for that amount of time. It would be better to do this in advance so that you don’t have to worry about papers and follow-ups as you are already readying yourself for your trip.
You may opt to skip the momentary cut, but it will still cost you up to a few hundred bucks when you return, plus you run the risk of getting marked down as paying your bills late. That could end up with a permanent disconnection if you are not aligned with your service providers and even affect your credit standing. On top of that, other monthly services that have a fixed rate won’t lessen just because you’re not home to keep up your consumption.
Have your home safety checked.
Before leaving, it would be wise to just have a general check with an electrical contractor to make sure everything is in order. If you have a security system in place, double-check that it’s in working order (as long as you inform your security provider that you are merely testing the system). That can ensure that there won’t be any unwanted break-ins or accidental shorts that could prove to be anything from a minor hassle to a major blow that could ruin your warm welcome home. If you feel like your appliances and wiring have seen their fair share of wear and tear, this may be an ample time to get things tuned up so that they don’t end up in disrepair from disuse. Take note as well, what time of year you’ll be gone, as that will affect which ones are more prone to take a beating before you leave.
Get a reliable person for maintenance.
It would also be wise to have a trusted person to check on your house now and then to make sure everything is in order. That is especially important if you have a lawn and any plants that need tending to, and mail that needs to be received. It may be hard to have your mail diverted, especially if you won’t be permanently changing your address anyway. If you have pets, it’s also an obvious essential to have someone take care of them. As for cleaning, you may want to put that task in the hands of your trusted temporary caretaker or anyone they might choose to hire.
Once you’ve covered all these bases, you can have fewer worries in the back of your mind as you set off and enjoy your time away.
