Between cramming for that last final and stuffing your suitcase for home, it may be easy to forget about readying your place for your absence. So, here’s some tips you won’t want to forget about protecting and securing your place before you begin your three-week hibernation.
Tip #1 – Remove everything near the windows. Visible valuables near a window can show how valuable the contents of a house or an apartment is to thieves.
Tip #2 – Locked windows protect the property from easy access. Closed blinds eliminate the temptation for invasion by hiding valuables from view.
Tip #3 – By making sure any barbecues or other fire hazards are out now, you can rest easy over break knowing a fire isn’t about to destroy your place while you’re away because you forgot to put out that candle on your desk when rushing to catch that 6 a.m. flight.
Tip #4 – Turn off your lights. Better yet, get yourself a light timer to time a room of lights to turn on for a couple of hours in the evening while you’re away. You can conserve energy and still leave the impression that you’re actively at home over the break. ($7 – $15 at Lowe’s, Fred Meyer, or Wal-Mart).
Tip #5 – Do unplug all those lamps and electronics, though. This will conserve energy and will guarantee that no electrical fire will ensue from that sketchy circuit.
Tip #6 – Clean out the fridge and pantry. Get rid of all your produce and veggies. Check each product to see if it will still be edible come January. Sticking with the holiday spirit, you can always donate your unopened food!
Tip #7 – Do those dishes now or else the smell is going to fester and grow in your place while you’re away. You want to be able to come back to a property that’s habitable, right?
Tip #8 – Don’t remember to take out the trash when you’re two states away. Do it as you leave.
Tip #9 – Turn down your heater, but do not turn it off. Water expands in the cold and can burst your pipes and leak all over your place if you don’t keep the temperature above 50°.
Tip #10 – An easy way for a thief to know if someone is away is by looking at how much mail has accumulated in their mailbox. Pull a fast one and have your mail temporarily redirected back to the Bay Area or wherever you hail from while you’re away. Then it’ll appear that you love checking the mail and that you are indeed still living up the holidays at your college place.
Follow Allysa Veigel on Twitter @AllysaVeigel