Protect Your Home before Leaving for Vacation

Warmer temps, kids out of school, and longer days make it easy to understand why summer is peak season for travel plans. Easy days lounging lakeside, sipping cocktails on the beach, touring new territories, or camping beneath a star-filled sky offer plenty of opportunities to relax and unwind from the usual busy schedule. When it comes time to return to “real life” after days away soaking up the sun and making new memories, the last thing you want to do is come home to chaos.

Possible Home Disaster Scenarios 

Filling up your to-do list with tasks may be the last thing you want to do before jet-setting or road-tripping off for the good life. Then again if it means returning to a home that’s safe, sound, and comfortable, you’ll be very glad you did. Give these tips a try before leaving for your next vacation.

Avoid Water Damage 

• Test your sump pump. Install a backup sump battery if needed.
• Turn off the main water valve.
• Check gutters to make sure they are draining properly. Clean or amend as needed.
• Make sure exterior water faucets and sprinkler systems are turned off.
• Install a water sensor and/or leak detector, which can contact your phone when a water problem presents itself in your home.

Prevent Fire Damage 

• Unplug all electronics and appliances that won’t be in use while away.
• Avoid your home from looking vacant by putting lights on a timer and canceling mail delivery to deter your home from becoming an arson target.
• Trim back trees and overhanging branches from your roof and home’s exterior in case of a lightning storm.
• Store all flammable liquids, including gasoline, paints, and cleaning agents, in a cool, safe place.
• Don’t run appliances, such as your washer, dryer, or dishwasher, when not at home.

Keep Your Home Safe 

• Let a friend and/or neighbor know that you’ll be out of town. Ask them to check in on your home occasionally, as well as pick up any unexpected packages delivered by someone other than the USPS.
• Don’t share your out-of-town plans on social media. You don’t want to advertise that your home is empty and unprotected.
• If you have an alarm system, notify the company of your travel plans.
• Protect valuable from potential home damage or theft by keeping them in a fireproof safe deposit box.
• Close blinds and curtains so that strangers can’t see your home is currently unoccupied.

Return to the Home Just As You Left It 

• Toss away perishables and empty the trash to prevent coming home to a stinky mess.
• Run the garbage disposal to make sure no food is sitting in it, which could rot and smell.
• Before leaving, run the dishwasher and wash and replace bedding. Coming home to a chore-free house (even if just temporarily), will be a relief.
• Make sure all doors, windows, and entryways are locked, including access to buildings such as garages and storage sheds.
• Water your plants–both inside and out.

Make your vacation as enjoyable as possible by removing any worry or concern of what’s happening back at your home. Should your summer time off end with a home disaster, breathe easy knowing we’re here to respond to whatever state happens. Our experienced and professional team is ready and waiting to be of service to you.

Fire and Water Restoration Experts 

A&J Property Restoration is a full-service emergency and non-emergency damage restoration company. We are a leader in the commercial and residential restoration industry, providing 24/7 emergency fire and water restoration, water damage clean up and restoration service, sewage clean up services and black mold removal service. We also specialize in tough cleaning projects and offer residential and commercial cleaning services. Our emergency response team will help get you back on your feet as quickly as possible with a unique combination of expertise and compassion. Contact us today if your home has suffered property damage while on vacation.

We provide 24/7 emergency services for homes, businesses, and commercial buildings around Madison, Middleton, Sun Prairie, Waunakee, Portage, Milwaukee, Brookfield, WI Dells, Fort Atkinson, Watertown, Oconomowoc, Waukesha, West Allis, and surrounding Dane County Wisconsin areas.