Traveling is always super exciting. It’s that time of the year that you look forward to for months and months, and by the time it’s before you you can’t wait to leave the office behind and forget about everything for two weeks.

Except the fact that you can’t. People invariably end up panicking about the state of their homes, what might happen while they’re gone, will the cat feeder show up, etc. Well, we can’t speak to that last one, but there are several things that we can recommend that will surely help calm your nerves and allow you to stay focused on the moment while you’re away.

Different Parts of the House

Your house consists of multiple parts. This is what’s tricky about it; you’re never sure if you’ve fully covered everything you need to think about. So we’ve divided the article into two parts: inside and out. Going through these lists systematically will help give you the peace of mind you need to set sail on your trip and know you’ll be coming home to the same place you left. Perhaps most importantly, if you are setting out on a big kayaking trip and don’t live anywhere near a river, don’t leave your foldable 2 person kayak sitting outside for two weeks before your trip!

Your Home’s Interior

Protecting your home while you’re on vacation starts on the inside. To protect your home’s interior against damage and burglary, keep the following points in mind:

• Put your lighting on the timer. Burglars tend to watch homes during different times of day and try to determine if they are dark for multiple days at a time. If they are, this automatically signals that the residents are away and the green light is on for them to break in. Timers can give the appearance of being home and do a lot to deter thieves.
• Protect your outlets against unexpected power issues. There might be a sudden power surge while you are away, and for this reason you should unplug all of your appliances before you leave.
• Don’t leave anything juicy by the window. This might sound like a no-brainer, but the temptation to frame the things you love in a nice place can easily blind you to the reality that you might be inadvertently exposing valuables to potential burglars. Hide all your valuables from the outside viewing area.
• Be sure that your pipes are insulated. No one wants to come home from their dream kayaking vacation to a burst pipe. Go through them all carefully and make sure everything is protected. You should also be sure that your home is kept on a reasonable temperature (well above freezing) so that pipes don’t burst.

Outside the Home

Once you’ve gone through the rooms of your house to make sure everything is in order, you should then proceed to the outside.

• Check your doors and windows (obviously). We know that you know this. But when your mind is already out on the water, it’s amazing how easy it can be to forget basic things. Go through all your doors and windows systematically and make sure they are locked.
• Make arrangements to have your lawn taken care of. Having an overgrown lawn can be just as obvious of a sign that you’re gone as having your lights off. Even if it’s once a week, it is worth it.
• Have your mail stopped. You don’t want a big pile of mail building up while you’re out on your dream vacation. Put this on your checklist well in advance so that you don’t have to worry about it at the last minute.
• Prune your branches. This might sound crazy, but it’s true: some thieves can be remarkably good at climbing into second-story windows through tree branches. Making sure that everything is trimmed away from windows will help keep pesky ideas out of potential burglars’ heads.
• Lock up your patio furniture. A lot of people might not think of this, but if you live in a really windy area, you’d be amazed at how patio furniture such as curtains and other objects can fly around. You don’t want to return from your trip to find chairs randomly strewn around your lawn (or worse yet, having damaged parts of the home).

Other Things to Consider

Beyond all of this, there are a few more general things that you should keep in mind. As much as you might be tempted to, don’t run around telling everyone in town that you are going away. This includes social media, where information can spread like wildfire (and you might end up with untold numbers of requests for souvenirs!).

You might want to arrange for a house sitter, too (this will take care of the cat, by the way). Although you will have to pay for it, it will provide you with that peace of mind you need to be sure everything is ok in your absence. Then you can return from your fabulous kayaking trip, and share everything with your housesitter and friends!