Ten Things To Do Before You Leave For Vacation

You’ve booked your Ocean Isle Beach vacation, you sent that last work email, the kids are packed, and you’re ready to lock the door and take off for the beach! But, before you leave, there are just a few more things to do. After all, there’s traveling … and there’s traveling smart. Whether you are headed out for the Christmas holiday or for two weeks of summer beach bliss, it’s important to do a few things around the house to give you that truly worry-free vacation you deserve. This week we have ten things you should do before you leave for vacation.

Stop the Paper & Mail

Nothing says, “I’m on vacation” like a pile of newspapers and packages on the front porch. Give your local paper a call and have your service suspended while you are out of town. This is also a good time to stop by the post office (or go online) and ask for your mail to be held during your vacation. Don’t forget while sitting on the beach cruising Amazon that you don’t want a bunch of packages delivered to your home while you are gone. A better practice is to see if you can have them delivered to a neighbor or friend while out of town.

Unplug unnecessary items

Did you know that most electronics draw a parasitic charge even when not in use? If you’re going to be gone for a week or so, unplug items like the computer, televisions, and coffee pot. By doing this you can save a few bucks and help protect against electrical surges caused by storms or other anomalies. Hey, every penny counts.

Buy travel insurance

There’s only one way to completely protect your vacation investment and that’s by buying travel insurance. Travel insurance covers all sorts of losses and unexpected events. These losses can include those related to weather, deployments, illness, and multiple other vacation-ruining events. Travel insurance is relatively inexpensive, especially when you consider the cost of canceling or re-booking a vacation. When you book with Williamson Realty Vacations we’ll offer you a comprehensive travel insurance plan. Have questions? We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Call the bank

It’s sad to say, but identity theft is on the rise. The good news is any good bank will offer services to help protect your valuable information while traveling. Many banks will let you know if there is any unusual account activity. Take advantage of fraud alerts by text or email and use your bank’s secure online banking app. Letting your bank know you are going to be traveling is a great way to gain an advantage over would-be identity thieves.

Prevent water leaks

Sometimes it happens… a dream vacation is ruined the moment you get home. Sadly, water leaks do happen. Pipes can freeze in the winter, hot water heaters fail, or the ice maker on the fridge decides to leak. Take a few minutes to turn off the water to these larger appliances before you leave. By turning off the hot water heater you’ve taken an easy step to ensure that the only water your toes touch is the crystal clear waters of Ocean Isle Beach.

Light is your friend

Locking your doors is just the first step in securing your home. Home security and law enforcement experts all agree that criminals don’t like well-lit homes. Darkness, after all, is the thief’s friend! Timers are a great way to ensure that lights come on in your home. The best advice is to have a couple different timers so lights come on at different times. Exterior motion lights are also an inexpensive way to help protect your home.

Have a plan

It is really important to have a plan for how to deal with any unexpected emergency, be it storm damage or a break in. Having an action plan ready will make these events much less stressful. The plan should include knowing important contact information for people such as your insurance agent or friend. A helpful friend, family member, or insurance agent can handle many things for you until you can get back home. With a plan in place you can rest easy. In reality, the chances are slim that any of these things will ever happen, but why worry if you don’t have to? If they do occur, a couple of quick phone calls can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a vacation-ruining event.

Call a neighbor

If you have a friend, neighbor, or family member in the area, ask them to drive by the house a couple times while you’re gone. Nothing beats having a pair of eyes on your property. A quick stop by a trusted friend can be reassuring while you are kicking back on the beach without a care in the world.

Don’t say too much on social media

We all love our social media, but there are some things that should be left unsaid. Criminals these days are getting more and more sophisticated. Often criminals will troll social media accounts. Don’t advertise that you’ll be gone for long periods of time on your social media. Save your posts and updates for your return. After all, everyone loves seeing pictures of Ocean Isle Beach!

Taking care of furry family members

Whether it’s your daughter’s favorite rabbit or your old faithful yellow lab, we all love our pets. Before leaving for vacation, make sure to book a house sitter or a kennel to take care of your furry family member. With dogs, it’s always best to visit the kennel first. Take a look at the facility and read their online reviews. Look for a kennel that has a webcam so you can see your dog while you’re on vacation. If you’re having a house sitter, make sure to review your expectations with them.

Have you booked your 2021 Summer beach vacation? Ocean Isle Beach is the perfect place for your next family vacation! Our beautiful island community has all the features of larger more crowded destinations, but with a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere. Give us a call today at800-727-9222or click the button below to begin planning your vacation today.