Our big trip is almost here! (Six more weeks?!) Time to get everything together and finalize any last minute details, so we thought we would put together a list of things that should be squared away and finalized on the home front for the time you’re away.
4-6 Weeks Prior to Departure
- Confirm with your pet sitter and/or house sitter if you have one lined up, to make sure you don’t have any last minute cancellations.
- If someone is staying in your home, be sure to get some groceries/cash for your sitter beforehand, to make sure they’re happy being there for the duration of your trip.
- Lock up any valuables (i.e. jewelry/guns) either in a safe or a safety deposit box. Maybe take them to a trusted friends/relatives house for safe keeping.
- If you have pets, make sure you have enough pet food, treats, cat litter, etc. so your sitter doesn’t have to go shopping for it while you’re gone.
- Finish any needed repairs done around your house or apartment before leaving so they don’t get worse while you’re away. The last thing anyone wants is to come home to a puddle in the living room from a roof leak.
- Arrange to have the postal service hold your mail for you or make sure your sitter is gathering your mail/newspapers for you while you are gone.
- If you are going on an extended trip, set up automatic payments for your bills that may be due while you’re gone (credit cards, utilities, rent, etc.)
- Make a copy or two of your house key, so your sitter or family can check in on your place. Don’t leave a copy outside under the mat.
- Leave a copy of all of your travel documents and itinerary with your emergency contacts.
1 Week Prior to Departure
You'll be so glad you took care of these few things a week before you left when you get back and you’re too exhausted to do anything.
- Gas up your vehicles before leaving so when you wake up late on your first day back to work, you won’t have to worry about it.
- Give your home a good deep cleaning before you leave, so you can come back to a nice place.
- Do all of your laundry before setting out. Not just what you need for your trip. You’ll have plenty of laundry to do from your trip alone. Why add more?
- If you have a yard, think about pre-paying somebody to take care of your lawn for the duration of your trip. This will make it seem like someone is home and if you get them scheduled to mow right before you return, that’s just one less thing to worry about for the week you get back!
- Call your bank and your credit card companies and notify they that you will be traveling. The last thing anyone wants is to be overseas and have your funds frozen due to 'suspicious activity'.
- Arrange a ride to and from the airport.
- Make sure you have enough medication to last for the trip, enough pairs of contacts, etc.
1-2 Days Prior to Departure
- Gather all travel documents and paperwork and make copies. Hard copies are always good, but taking a picture with your phone isn’t a bad idea either.
- Check in for your flight and print your boarding passes.
- Go over your checklist to make sure you have everything packed. Then make like Santa and go over it all again.
- Especially if you don’t have a sitter, clean out the refrigerator and take out the trash. Trust me, you don’t want to come home to a house smelling like bad vegetables or sour milk.
- Clean out your wallet/purse so that you are only taking things pertaining to your trip. (i.e. all of those old receipts, cards that you can’t use overseas, etc.)
- Make sure all of your windows and doors are locked up. You’d be surprised at how many people leave windows unlocked.
I’m sure there are a ton of other things we haven’t thought of yet, but take this as a rough idea of how to prepare before a big trip. If we’re missing something or you have a good idea you’d like to add, please comment below!
