Imagine coming home from a long vacation. Of course, the only thing you’d want to do is to relax and slack off, since the days away from your home took up most of your activity time. However, there’s a catch—you forgot to clean up and prepare your apartment before you left.
And so the organization nightmare hits you right in the face. But that’s not the only thing that’s wrong. The plumbing issue started up way too late for you to even notice. There’s water everywhere. The worst scenario would probably be the discovery of being robbed. That sucks.
Since Uptown Locators is committed to serving you with the best apartments in Dallas, TX, we have come up with a few tips on how to prepare your apartment if you’re going out of town for quite a while. Remember, it’s easier to tire yourself out preparing for the worst than coming home to bad news and having to start all over again. We wouldn’t want that to happen to you!
Apartment Power-down
It’s best to first think about your electrical outlets and other appliances when you leave. Don’t worry, chances of fire suddenly breaking out won’t happen if you prevent it even before it comes to your mind. If you have a heater, turn down the thermostat 10-15 degrees lower than the usual so it won’t damage your flooring and other furniture. As for your small appliances, make sure to unplug them. With that, you can also make things easier by shutting off the circuit breaker.
Waterproof Your Apartment
After making sure that your appliances and all electrical outlets are secure, it’s time for you to consider your water and plumbing. For all devices that use water, turn off the valves. As for your water heaters, it’s best to set them to “vacation mode” (if there is) or turn them off completely. Finally, shut off your main water valve, to be sure that there are no chances of leaking.
Security Lockdown
This tip might cost you a bit, but it’s worth the investment. If you don’t have a security system installed, get one ASAP. A security system won’t be a one-time thing because it could also help you feel secure when you are in your home. Also, you might turn things up a notch by adding wifi cameras to survey your apartment when you’re gone. When it comes to extra keys, take them with you. There’s no reason to leave one anyway. For extra measure, move your other valuables in a safe. Oh, and one more thing, avoid posting stuff about your vacation on social media. You’re never sure if someone’s out there on a lookout for empty apartments.
Have Someone Check Your Apartment
We call them apartment sitters. They could be your close friend, your neighbor, or your family members. If things work out well, you can even have them stay at your place during your vacation. That way you’re sure that your home is safe. Just make sure to lock your valuables and other important stuff in a separate room or cabinet. They might be looking after the apartment, but not every area can be used or accessed. You can never be too comfortable.