Even with COVID-19 putting a damper on many forms of holiday travel, this time of year coincides with more time spent away from your home. If you’re preparing for an extended absence from your Tulsa home for rent during the holiday season, or anticipating the next time you’ll be visiting family, traveling for work, or going on vacation, it’s important to make sure your home is ready for an extended absence. Here are some simple steps you should take before leaving your house for more than a few days.
Notify The Legacy Living Team
Notifying our staff of your absence is important in case we need to enter your home while you are gone (e.g. for maintenance or in case of an emergency). Be sure to mention any expected visitors to your home during your absence such as a pet sitter or relative. And let us know the best way to contact you while you’re gone, in case we need to get in touch.
Take Out Garbage & Recycling
Nothing’s worse than coming back from a long trip to a smelly or pest-ridden house. Avoid this by making sure that you’ve taken out any trash and recycling, including any perishables in the fridge that could expire while you are away. While you’re at it, go ahead and clean up any messes that could attract ants, flies, or other pests.
Adjust Your Thermostat
Adjusting your thermostat will ensure that you don’t waste money on utility bills while you’re gone. We don’t recommend turning your thermostat off entirely, but depending on the season, set your thermostat so that your central air or heating doesn’t have to work too hard to maintain a constant temperature.
Unplug Large Appliances
Another tip to save money on utilities you won’t actually be using is to unplug your large appliances. This could apply to your dryer, TV, computer, and any other major appliances you may have. Just don’t unplug anything like refrigerators or freezers that will thaw and cause food to spoil or medications to go bad while you are gone.
Put Valuables & Important Documents in a Lockbox
Although our homes are safe and break-ins are rare, it’s worth making sure your most important valuables and documents have an extra layer of protection. A lockbox is a simple way to protect what matters most and is hardest to replace, such as family heirlooms, tax and identification documents, and other necessities.
Close and Lock All Doors & Windows
It should go without saying, but we had to include it: close and lock your doors and windows. Seriously. And while you’re at it, close the blinds too. This helps prevent others from being able to tell your home is vacant, which reduces the risk of break-ins while you’re gone.
On the off-chance that you forgot to lock your apartment when you left, please reach out to the office and let us know! We’d be happy to keep your home safe by locking it for you.
We hope these tips will help you prepare for the next time you need to leave your Tulsa home for rent! If you enjoyed this post, go ahead and bookmark our blog page for easy access to future recommendations, tips, and features. You should also be sure to follow Legacy Living on Facebook so you can stay informed about all the special events, promotions, and updates about our Tulsa homes for rent.