Vacation can take a lot of planning (even for a spontaneous solo traveler like me). There’s booking your transportation and accommodations, planning for proof on onward tickets if you’re going overseas and finding stuff you wanna do.

But there’s an overlooked thing, especially for homeowners or apartment dwellers: the importance of taking care of their homes.

If you’re ready to learn what else goes into better vacation planning, keep reading this pre-travel checklist.

Don’t Forget the Outside——Make Yard Work Easier

If you have a home with a yard, you know how relentless grass can be…there’ll always be work. You can always hire out the job (especially if you’re away longer-term), but you could also just remember to mow before you leave.

I like to use rechargeable lawn tools, like a battery lawn mower. You can just put the battery on the charger when you’re done and it’ll be ready for you when you return from your vacation. Just throw the fully-charged battery into your lawn mower and take a few passes through the grass once you’re back. No gas, no extra errands. Plus it’s quieter and more environmental than the alternatives.

And I really don’t like running to nearby gas stations just to cut the grass…especially when dealing with spills that stink up the car.

Double Check Entry Requirements for International Travel

Besides making sure your passport isn’t expiring any time soon, there are some other requirements for international travel. But it also depends on where you’re going and where you’re coming from.

So be sure to double the country entry requirements and plan ahead if you need to apply for any visas, grab travel insurance, pickup extra stuff of international travel (like a universal travel adapter) or prepare any extra documents.

Travel overseas usually takes a little extra planning (but it’s totally worth it!).

Explore more:
➤ International Travel Essentials Checklist

Hold Your Mail

When you’re away, your mail can pile up quickly. And an overflowing mail box can attract thieves who might realize you’re not home.

So if you have a box at your home that anyone can open quickly and easily, ask a friend or a neighbor if they can grab your mail when they’re getting theirs. Neighbors are easiest since they are nearby.

You can also ask the post office to hold your mail. This is usually what my family always did growing up. You can easily request your mail be held for a specific amount of time, and they’ll deliver it to you on the date you request your mail to resume. Or, you can go to the post office yourself to pick it up when you return.

Avoid Ordering Anything

If you can, avoid ordering stuff that might be delivered while you’re away. Even if your trusty neighbor is keeping an eye on things (they might not be able to pop over immediately after a package is delivered…or they might forget).

Your package might get stolen or worse (it could signal that you’re not home).

Look at auto-renewals for any items you have delivered on a schedule (like food delivery or prescriptions). Go online to the ordering app and change your delivery schedule to align with your return date or a day after you get home.

Set Up a Home Security System

If you already have a home security system, take time to check every camera, keypad, door and window sensors, and the app on your phone.

Make sure everything is updated and you’ve replaced any batteries that are about die (so you don’t get that low battery notification while you’re gone…with no way of doing anything about it…which can cause stress).

This is also a good time to check the angles of the cameras. Adding a camera to each floor of your home and an extra one or two in the back and side yards could behoove you…if you’re into security and want full view for everything going on while you’re gone.

You can always remove some or turn them off once you return home, and only use them when you are away.

Take Out the Trash

This sounds obvious, but remember to take out your trash bins in every room before you leave (not just the kitchen).

There’s nothing worse than hella smells, bugs and other creatures trying to get in while you’re trying to chill and forget about things for a bit. This is especially important with your kitchen trash.

Once you empty all the house trash bins, make sure your outdoor trash container gets picked up on schedule. Ask a neighbor if they can take it out in the morning on trash day and then put it back later that day.

Clean Your Kitchen (+ house)

Before you leave, take some time to clean out your fridge, freezer, pantry and fruit bowls or baskets on your countertops.

Pay attention to anything with a looming expiration date or perishables that’ll expire while you’re away.

Just throw that stuff away. In Japanese, we might say “mottainai!” (= such a waste!), but in this case, they’ll probably just go bad, leaving you with a smelly fridge and kitchen. I don’t want a stinky house.

And don’t forget the the coffee grounds in your coffee maker! I’ve done this too many times…

Also, something I tend to forget about is planning what I’ll eat when I come back. Plan some food that’ll be easy to make or warm up (provided it’ll last until you get back…unless you’re freezing it).

Getting home with nothing to eat sucks. But a little planning is all you need to avoid problems or feeling like your only option is more road trip food or takeout (which you might be sick of by that point).

A great vacation comes down to simply planning ahead and thinking about the core stuff you need to do before and after. Just set aside some time to make sure your most important stuff (your home, mail and yard) are cared for. So when you come home, you can just unpack, sit back and relax.

Now go finish packing and enjoy your travels!

Later ✌️

Want More? Nice. Here’s More.

Featured