Vacations are exciting opportunities for fun and relaxation. Before leaving your apartment, taking a few steps to get it in order will help you achieve peace of mind knowing you’ll arrive back to a tidy, secure space. The more thorough your preparation, the more at ease you’ll feel as you head off for your trip.
Follow this 11-part checklist before leaving on vacation to ensure you cover all your bases.
Check your lease for any clauses about a pre-vacation procedure that will let you know what your landlord expects when you take a vacation.
If you don’t find a pre-vacation procedure in your lease, your landlord should at least know when you plan to leave and return. As the owner, they will appreciate knowing if the property will be unoccupied during this time. Your time away could also be a good opportunity to take care of maintenance tasks without inconveniencing you.
If you want to give anyone else access to the apartment while you’re away, get your landlord’s permission first out of courtesy. Also, let them know how they can contact you while you’re away. If you are out of reach or taking a break from your phone and email, give them a heads-up about your limited access to these channels during your vacation.
If you live in a close-knit rental community, getting to know your neighbors can be beneficial when you’re going out of town. With good neighborly relationships, you can keep an eye on one another’s apartments when one of you goes on vacation. This is just one of the ways that social connectedness makes communities safer from crime.
If you have a neighbor you know and trust, talk to them about your travel plans before you go. Ask them to check on your home now and then. Depending on your relationship with them and their availability, you could request they do the following:
Exchange contact details so they can let you know about anything concerning. If you want to go off the grid, give them a friend or family’s contact information in case an emergency or incident takes place.
Remember to thank them again when you return and look for opportunities to return the favor!
Arriving home to a clean apartment after a trip will make the post-vacation blues more manageable. You can return and enjoy a pleasant space with minimal chores awaiting you.
Here’s your essential cleaning checklist to prep your apartment for vacation:
Unless you’re taking your pet along on your trip, planning for care is one of an owner’s most important things to do before leaving for vacation. You have two primary ways to make sure your pet is in good hands.
The most affordable solution is to get a friend, family member or freelance pet sitter to look after your pet. Give them detailed instructions to ensure they cover all your animal friend’s requirements.
Create a printed or digital list with everything they need to know, including:
You never want your pet to be home alone for extended periods, so having a sitter take your pet to their residence is always best.
If you have fish, an automated feeder and tank cleaner can ensure your pets are taken care of throughout your trip without needing a friend or sitter to access your apartment while you are away.
If you prefer your pet to have professional, full-day care, you could book them into a kennel or other boarding facility. If you don’t have a go-to kennel yet, ask your vet, search pet owners’ forums and check reviews to find a reliable option.
Visit the boarding location before you leave for your trip. Check the facilities and find out what your pet’s daily routine would be like. Ensure your pet will have a comfortable sleeping area, and ask about supervision during playtime. Pay attention to your gut — do you feel comfortable trusting these folks with your pet?
As with the pet-sitting option, ensure the staff knows about special dietary or medical needs. Drop off a supply of your pet’s preferred food to ensure they maintain a good diet while you’re away.
Although they’re a little lower maintenance than pets, it will take some planning to ensure your plants flourish during your vacation. Ask someone you trust to come by and water them as needed. Send them a list of all your plants, explaining how much and how often to water each. Alternatively, you could look into self-watering planter systems if you have the room in your budget.
Think about each plant’s light needs, too. Some may prefer more light than others. If your sitter can commit to moving plants around to meet their optimal lighting needs, that’s ideal. To keep things simple, just place them all somewhere with enough shade and sunlight to prevent scorching.
Remember to water and position them before you go!
Take some pre-vacation precautions with utilities and appliances to keep your apartment safe. Here’s your utility checklist before vacation day comes:
Use these key measures to protect your apartment while on vacation:
Always consider apartment security before vacation starts so you can unwind without worrying about it while you’re away.
One aspect of protecting your apartment while you’re away is keeping your absence from becoming obvious. Request a mail hold from your local post office to prevent mail from piling up outside your door so nothing goes missing, and your absence stays discreet.
Complete a form on the post office’s website with your address and the dates you need them to hold your mail. They can keep letters, papers and parcels safe until you return to collect them. You may be able to suspend your newspaper subscriptions and delivery dates, too.
If you prefer, you could ask a trusted neighbor to look out for mail and deliveries. If your post box starts filling up with letters or any packages arrive for you, ask your neighbor to collect these on your behalf and keep them until you return.
Keep yourself in the green financially while you’re away by automating your payments. This allows you to keep your accounts up to date and avoid service interruptions or late fees without spending precious vacation time paying bills. Payments you may want to automate include:
If you prefer manual payments, consider paying your bills early to free up more vacation time for fun and relaxation.
If you have one car and it’s your travel vehicle for this vacation, or if you have a secure, dedicated parking space assigned to you, you can skip this step. If leaving a car behind in an open area, you have a few alternatives to keep your vehicle safe from the elements and crime, like:
Leaving your car with a friend, family member or neighbor is the most affordable solution. But only choose it if you have someone you know you can trust.
If your apartment building has a shared secure parking area, you could leave your car there but move it to a less sought-after space to be considerate of your neighbors.
If you don’t yet have renters insurance, consider taking out some coverage before going on vacation.
Renters insurance protects your belongings whether you take them along or leave them behind, so you can worry less about your possessions and focus on having a fantastic trip. Insurance can also include liability coverage if you unintentionally hurt someone or damage their property, even while away from home.
Reviewing your policy before heading off on your trip is key to ensuring you understand your coverage and are up to date. If you have any questions, reach out to your insurance provider and inquire about travel considerations.
Now you know how to prepare your apartment before vacation and can enjoy greater peace of mind during your next trip. Wherever your adventures take you, returning to a place you love and feels like home is important. If you’re looking for a fantastic rental community in Pennsylvania, check out what Triple Crown Corporation has to offer. We have various options to suit your lifestyle.
Explore our rental communities across Pennsylvania to find the right apartment or house for you. If you have questions about our homes, contact our friendly team to learn more.
