4 Things You Need to Do to Prep Your Home Before Your Vacation



If you’re like most people, you probably do last-minute prep in your home before a vacation. Basic things like turning off the lights and locking the front door need no reminders. Other to-dos, like fixing the shower sliding door so that the house sitter can use it, aren’t so top of mind. If you’re concerned about forgetting any of your pre-vacation home-prep items, here are four chores you should have on your list.

Craftsman-style home with stone veneer base, wood siding, and multiple gable roofs on a wet driveway

Do Some Deep Cleaning

You may not feel like scrubbing your kitchen trash can in the days leading up to your vacation. However, in your absence, bugs, like ants, may come looking for sugary snacks. Giving everything a good washing helps to keep them at bay. Aside from this, transitioning from vacation to real life is easier when you have a clean house to come back to. The post-vacation version of yourself will thank you for putting in the work.

Secure Your Outdoor Items

Round stone-top patio table with four black swivel sling chairs on a deck

When you’re not home to batten down the hatches, you may find your furniture on the neighbor’s lawn when you return, thanks to unexpected storms. If you want your outdoor patio table and chairs and other items to stay put, secure them before you leave. If you have a garage, stash them there. If not, stack the chairs and tie everything together to keep them in place.

Check Water Risks in Your Home

Walk-in soaker tub with side entry door, built-in seat, and chrome faucet

Coming home to a flood puts a damper on your return. To prevent common water-related calamities, turn off the water supply to your home's toilets and faucets. If you want to be extra cautious, you can turn off your entire water supply.

Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

If you're worried about home security while you're away, there are a couple of practical steps you can take. In the best-case scenario, hiring a house sitter means someone’s always there to check for any bumps in the night. If you can’t find a sitter, do your best to make it look like you’re still at home. Stop the mail. Set your lights to go off at regular intervals. Ditto for your sprinklers. All of these things make the home look occupied and less of an easy target.

About Menards®

Menards® makes it easy to find the tools, materials, supplies, and advice you need for weekend DIY projects and major renovations. With a wide selection of departments, Menards® can help you tackle every DIY home improvement project on your to-do list. Shop in-store or browse online to find everything from propane gas fire pits to a walk in bathroom tub. With more than 300 locations across the Midwest, Save Big Money® when you shop with Menards®.

Get all of your home vacation prep done with tools and supplies from https://www.menards.com/

Popular posts from this blog

3 Must-Have Garage Storage Solutions

3 Steps to Building Your Dream Deck with the Help of Menards®

5 Reasons to Make DIY Home Upgrades