Preparing your home before you go on holiday protects it while you are away and means you return to no unpleasant surprises. A little effort before you leave brings real peace of mind. This guide explains how to prepare your home before going on holiday, from security to appliances and post. Work through it before you travel, tailoring it to your home and circumstances, so you can relax knowing your home is secure and ready for your return.
Secure your home
Security comes first: lock all doors and windows, set any alarm, and make sure your home is properly secured before you leave. An unsecured home is vulnerable while you are away. Checking that everything is locked and your security measures are active, rather than assuming, is the most important step in preparing your home. Taking the time to secure all entry points and activate any alarm gives you the reassurance that your home is protected against intrusion while you are on holiday.
Make your home look occupied
Make your home look occupied to deter burglars, using timer switches for lights, keeping it tidy from outside, and avoiding signs that you are away. A home that looks lived-in is less of a target. Using timers to turn lights on and off, and ensuring nothing signals an empty house, helps deter opportunist burglars who look for unoccupied homes. Creating the impression that someone is home, even while you are away, is an effective and inexpensive way to improve your home's security during your absence.
Tell a trusted neighbour
Consider telling a trusted neighbour or friend that you will be away, so they can keep an eye on your home, deal with anything unexpected, and contact you if needed. A watchful neighbour is valuable. Letting someone you trust know your home will be empty, and how to reach you, means there is someone to notice and respond to any problem. A reliable neighbour keeping an eye on things, perhaps holding a key, provides an extra layer of security and reassurance while you are on holiday.
Sort out your post
Deal with your post, as a pile of letters or parcels signals an empty home and can be a security risk, as well as a nuisance. Arrange to stop, redirect, or have someone collect your post. Our guide on looking after your home and post while away covers the options. Sorting your post so it does not build up visibly, whether by pausing deliveries or having a neighbour collect it, both improves security and avoids returning to an overwhelming pile, so include it in your home preparations.
Unplug appliances
Unplug appliances and electronics you do not need running, such as televisions, computers and chargers, to save energy and reduce any fire or power-surge risk while you are away. Leave essential items like the fridge on. Switching off and unplugging non-essential appliances before you go is a simple safety and energy-saving measure. Reducing what is left running in your empty home lowers the small risks associated with appliances and cuts unnecessary energy use, so go round and unplug what you safely can before leaving.
Sort heating and water
Adjust your heating and water as appropriate for the season and length of your trip, such as turning the heating down or off, while in cold weather leaving it on low to prevent frozen pipes. Consider turning off the water supply. Setting your heating sensibly for the conditions, and taking precautions against issues like frozen pipes in winter, protects your home and saves energy. Thinking about heating and water before you leave avoids both waste and the risk of weather-related damage while your home is empty.
Deal with the fridge, food and bins
Sort your fridge, food and bins: use up or remove perishable food, empty the bins, and avoid leaving anything that will spoil and smell while you are away. Coming home to rotten food is unpleasant. Clearing out perishables, taking out the rubbish, and leaving your kitchen clean before you go means you return to a fresh home rather than spoiled food and bad smells. A little tidying of food and bins before departure is a small job that makes coming home much more pleasant.
Look after plants and pets
Arrange care for any plants and pets, as they cannot fend for themselves while you are away. Plants may need watering, and pets need proper care through a sitter, boarding or a trusted person. Our guide on what to do with your pets while you are away covers pet care. Making sure your plants will be watered and your pets are properly looked after, arranged in advance, ensures your living things are cared for in your absence, which is both a practical necessity and important for their wellbeing while you holiday.
Check for leaks and hazards
Before leaving, check for any potential problems, such as dripping taps, leaks, or anything that could cause damage while you are away and unable to deal with it. Turning off the water supply can guard against leaks. Doing a quick check for taps left running, possible leaks, or other hazards, and addressing them, prevents a small issue becoming serious damage in your absence. A final look for anything that could go wrong while your home is empty is a sensible precaution before a holiday.
Secure valuables and documents
Make sure your valuables and important documents are secure, kept out of sight and ideally locked away, so that in the unlikely event of a break-in they are better protected. This is a sensible precaution. Storing valuables and key documents securely before you leave, rather than leaving them on display, reduces what could be lost if your home were broken into. Taking a moment to put away and secure your most important and valuable possessions is a worthwhile part of preparing your home for your absence.
Do a final walk-through
Before you leave, do a final walk-through of your home, checking everything is locked, switched off as intended, and sorted, so you depart confident nothing is overlooked. This final check catches anything missed. Walking through your home one last time, verifying doors and windows are locked, appliances are dealt with, and everything is as it should be, gives you the reassurance that your home is properly prepared. A final sweep before you head off ensures you leave with genuine peace of mind.
Leave details with someone you trust
Leave a key and your contact details with a trusted neighbour, friend or family member, along with how to reach you, so they can help if anything happens at your home while you are away. This is valuable should a problem arise. Our guide on looking after your home and post while away covers this. Ensuring someone you trust can access and check your home, and contact you in an emergency, means any issue that arises in your absence can be dealt with promptly rather than waiting until you return.
In short
To prepare your home before a holiday, secure all doors and windows and set any alarm, make your home look occupied with timers, and tell a trusted neighbour. Sort your post, unplug non-essential appliances, set your heating and water sensibly, and deal with the fridge, food and bins. Arrange care for plants and pets, check for leaks and hazards, secure your valuables and documents, and do a final walk-through. A little effort brings real peace of mind while you are away.
Explore more in our Packing & Before You Go guides.