Confession: In my former life (my family can attest to this) I was what some might consider pig-like, but I’ve come to the other side, and it’s so much nicer! But like I said earlier, coming home after vacation can be a depressing downer, and it’s even worse when you come home to a mess. I know, I know the last thing you want to do while you are trying to prepare for time away is clean the house, but it feels SO good to return to a home that’s inviting you back in. We were astounded to recently find that we had 2 or 3 windows that were not only unlocked, but cracked open a bit- not good for the heating bill either! ![]() This is especially important to check on post-summer. Even windows that you think are high and unreachable. When we are fixing the blinds, we also do a quick check to ensure all the windows are actually locked. And while you’re at it, check to make sure your gates are properly latched. Also, don’t forget to think about ALL of your exterior doors: back porch, walkout basement, side doors, etc. Yes, it seems simple and a no-brainer, but with the frenzy of getting to the airport or getting the car packed, it can be overlooked. For a more long term vacation or trip, we leave another light in the house on (in addition to the porch light). If it’s just a night or two away, we just leave the porch light on. ![]() Keeping the blinds open slightly allows light to come in and prevents condensation and mold, something us Pacific Northwesterners take very seriously. Light can come through, but it’s actually hard to see into the house. We have vertical wood blinds and strategically close them ever them ever so slightly. I don’t want to be overwhelmed walking into another “to-do list” and feeling like I want to walk right out! Sure, I don’t want my basement flooded, the pipes to freeze, or any other unspeakable disaster, but I also want to be happy and relieved when I return home. While on a road trip recently, I picked his brain, and we came up with a list of 10 important things we do to not only ensure our house safe, but also a nice place to come back to! In the days and hours before we go out of town, he goes through a checklist of sorts (though it’s just in his head) and makes sure our house is not only a safe place to return to, but also a pleasant one. Lucky for me though, I have a husband who thinks about and is much more aware of such important matters. ![]() I’ll admit that I can get so wrapped up in the excitement and busyness of planning and preparing for a trip or vacation that I rarely give the house a second thought.
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