How do I prepare my house for a long absence?

10 steps you need to prepare your home for an extended vacation
  1. Lock any external doors, windows, and the garage.
  2. Don't hide any house keys near your door.
  3. Set programmable light timers for outdoor lights.
  4. Turn on any motion-activated outdoor lights.
  5. Close your windows and blinds, removing any visible valuables.
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What to do if you are leaving your house for a long time?

Lock All External Doors, Windows, and the Garage

Lock your back door. Lock the door between your garage and your house. Lock all sliding doors with security locks. Lock pet doors and any other external entry ways into your house.
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How do I prepare my house for being away?

Preparing the Interior of Your House for Vacation
  1. Turn Out the Lights. ...
  2. Have a Lamp (or Two) on a Timer. ...
  3. Adjust the Blinds. ...
  4. Scatter Your Valuables. ...
  5. Unplug Appliances and Electronics. ...
  6. Set the Thermostat Accordingly. ...
  7. Purge Perishable Foods. ...
  8. Remove the Spare Key.
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What should I do if I leave my house for 3 months?

How to Close a House for Three Months
  1. Shut off any propane or natural gas or propane valves. ...
  2. Unplug all electrical and electronic appliances. ...
  3. Store all outside patio furniture and tools inside the house.
  4. Prune trees with overhanging branches that could fall on your house in a high windstorm.
  5. Drain the plumbing system.
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How do you protect your home when you are away?

Protect your home while on vacation
  1. Set timers on interior lights. This goes a long way in deterring burglars, who often look for crimes of opportunity. ...
  2. Power surges. ...
  3. Don't make or socialize status updates. ...
  4. Alert your alarm company. ...
  5. Secure valuables. ...
  6. Set the HVAC. ...
  7. Protect your pipes. ...
  8. Check doors and windows.
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What should I do if I leave my house for 2 weeks?

11 Things to Do Around the House Before You Go on Vacation
  1. Arrange for a Friend to Keep Tabs on Your House. ...
  2. Clean Out Fridge/Freezer of Perishables. ...
  3. Clear Garbage Disposal. ...
  4. Put Mail on Hold. ...
  5. Arrange for Grass Cutting, Garden Watering. ...
  6. Light Rooms/Outside Lights With Timers. ...
  7. Turn Off Main Water Supply.
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What to do with your house when you travel?

The following are 10 tips for keeping your home safe while traveling:
  1. ASK SOMEONE TO WATCH YOUR HOUSE. ...
  2. PUT YOUR MAIL ON HOLD. ...
  3. DON'T ANNOUNCE IT ON SOCIAL MEDIA. ...
  4. UNPLUG EVERYTHING. ...
  5. DON'T LET NEWSPAPERS AND PACKAGES PILE UP. ...
  6. DON'T LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON THE WHOLE WEEK. ...
  7. LEAVE YOUR CURTAINS HOW YOU NORMALLY HAVE THEM.
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How long can a house be left empty?

Most standard home insurance policies allow your home to be empty for up to 60 days per year. If you leave your property unoccupied for longer than this, you may not be covered.
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How long can you keep a house empty?

Generally, there are no set-rules in place that state how long you can leave your unoccupied property vacant for. However, it is important to note that most standard home insurance providers will only cover an empty property for 30 to 60 days.
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Can you leave a house unheated in the winter?

Almost any room in the house can be closed off for the winter or at least have the temperature substantially reduced. But not every room can go entirely unheated because the flooring may crack, any plaster cracks will widen, and ice may form inside on the windows and ruin their finish.
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What do you do when you leave your house for 4 months?

5 Things to Do Before Going on a Trip and Leaving Your House Unoccupied
  1. Adjust Your Thermostat — But Not Too Much. Why heat or cool your home when you're not there to enjoy it? ...
  2. Stock Up Your Refrigerator. ...
  3. Turn Off Your Water. ...
  4. Stop Vampires. ...
  5. Don't Advertise to Thieves.
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How do you close a house for a year?

Make the house look lived in:
  1. Set automatic timers for interior lights on staggered hours, and turn on motion sensors for exterior lights.
  2. Ensure all doors, windows, skylights, and vents are properly closed and locked.
  3. Stop mail service and newspaper deliveries.
  4. Inform local police the house will be empty.
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How do you prepare toilets for a long vacation?

Linda Stanfield, owner of Benjamin Franklin the Punctual Plumber, recommends not turning it off while you're gone, but instead flushing it out when you return. One way to do this is to run the water heater until it is empty and let it refill again. Details: Toilets can collect bacteria, which can cause stains.
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How do I prepare my house for vacation in winter?

Prep for Cold Temperatures
  1. Unplug all appliances, except for the lights timer.
  2. Schedule someone to water your plants, if you're leaving them behind.
  3. Make sure smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have fresh batteries.
  4. Set your thermostat no lower than 50 degrees, and no higher than 70.
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How do you close down a house for the summer?

Unplug all appliances, including oven, washer, dryer, and all televisions and telephones to guard against a lightning strike. Empty the refrigerator, freezer, and cupboards of food and give everything a good wipe down. Sweep the kitchen. Shut off the water at the main valve.
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Should you leave a light on when you go on vacation?

Leaving lamps and overhead lights on while you're away is not only dangerous, but it increases your electric bill. Light bulbs can become very hot and even ignite a fire. Instead, invest in a motion-sensor outdoor lighting system.
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What happens if a house is left empty?

If you leave your property empty and unfurnished for two years or more, we will charge an extra 100 per cent to your Council Tax bill. This means that you will have to pay 200 per cent Council Tax on the property.
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How do you stage an empty house on a budget?

Budget-Friendly Home Staging Tips for Empty Homes
  1. Cozy up the entryway. ...
  2. Add warmth to the kitchen. ...
  3. Add touches of luxury to the bathrooms. ...
  4. Bring attention to built-ins. ...
  5. Create personality with artwork. ...
  6. Use spray paint.
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What temperature should I keep my vacant house in winter?

If your home is vacant, you need to find the right middle ground on the thermostat. If it's too cold, you increase the freeze risk. If you keep it too warm, you risk wasting money and energy. As a general rule of thumb, leave the heat on and set your thermostat between 55 and 60 degrees.
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How often should an empty house be checked?

This is why an empty home can void a home insurance policy. In order to minimize the risk, insurance companies often require a home to be checked in on every 48-72 hours. The exact period of time varies by insurer, so be sure you know what your home insurance policy requires.
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Is unoccupied home insurance more expensive?

Unoccupied property insurance tends to be more expensive than standard home insurance. This is because vacant properties are considered a higher risk by insurers. Unoccupied properties are more likely to be damaged by: Vandalism.
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How can I avoid paying council tax on an empty property?

An empty property may be exempt from council tax if: the occupier is now a resident in a hospital or nursing home. Fill in and submit an application for discount disregard (homes and hospital)
...
It may also be exempt if:
  1. the occupier has moved to receive personal care.
  2. occupation is prohibited by law.
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How do I make my house look like vacation?

5 Ways to Make Your Home Look Occupied During Weekend Trips
  1. Use timed lighting. I think most of us would agree that a good security measure you can take is to set your lights with a timer, so they switch on when night falls. ...
  2. Have friends help. ...
  3. Ramp up security. ...
  4. Maintain a driveway presence. ...
  5. Make it look occupied.
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What should I do a month before vacation?

* Click here for a printable checklist.
  • Book transportation. ...
  • Ensure your travel documents are in order. ...
  • Print maps. ...
  • Polish your itinerary. ...
  • Ensure all your activities are booked. ...
  • Create a preliminary list of restaurants or markets you'll want to try. ...
  • Look into childcare options, if applicable. ...
  • Write a packing list.
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