With the extended lockdowns and quarantine protocols imposed because of the Coronavirus pandemic, people are encouraged to stay home as much as they can. This is a crucial step to stop the spread of the virus. Of course, people are obliged to follow the rules, but the situation can be extremely challenging for some. This is especially difficult for people who love the outdoors and those who love traveling. Good thing, you can now visit places, as long as you follow proper health protocols.
Going on a trip amidst the pandemic is quite risky because you’ll never know when you might catch the virus. However, you can still plan a trip, especially if you can assure you and the people who accompany you on the trip remain safe. You might need to submit necessary documents such as negative swab test results, health certificates, and other documents that allow you to travel. The key is to follow health protocols imposed by the government.
Home Maintenance Tasks to Fulfill before Leaving
Aside from preparing for a safe trip, you also need to prepare your home before your vacation. If you plan to leave home for a couple of days or even weeks, you need to ensure that you make all the necessary preparations first. This means you need to ensure that your residential property will be safe and secured even when you and your family leave home for the trip. Here is a home maintenance checklist that you might want to check out:
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Build a list of appliances to unplug or turn off
Several days before your trip, ensure that you make a list of your appliances at home. Doing this helps you check if you have already turned off or unplugged the appliance before leaving for your trip. This won’t be too much of a problem if someone will stay at your property while you are not around. Just ensure they also know where the plugs and switches are located, so they can also turn them off whenever they go out of the house.
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Install security cameras
Monitor activities at home by installing security cameras. This helps a lot if you assign someone to take care of your home while you are away. This is also important if you have pets at home. You can always check on them even while you are on vacation. Installing security cameras also help notify you if burglars or strangers are trying to enter your property.
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Clean your fridge
Spoiled food and other products will be smelly after several days on the fridge. To avoid this, ensure that you clean out your fridge before going on a trip. Avoid buying a lot of food items before the trip. If you can’t consume all of them before leaving, consider giving them out to friends, relatives, or your neighbor.
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Schedule laundry accordingly
It would be best if you can come home to a laundry-free home after a long trip. Thus, make sure to schedule your laundry a few days before the trip. This way, you don’t need to worry about dirty laundry waiting for you to go home from your memorable trip.
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Ensure your security locks don’t need repairs
Keep your home secured by ensuring that windows and doors are locked properly. Don’t forget to check your gates and ensure that no one can illegally enter your property. Inspect each lock and immediately repair ones that are damaged or are too old or rusty.
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Have a professional inspect your property for damages
Ensure you hire an expert to inspect your entire home for damages. This way, you can have them repaired or replaced before going on a trip. You can also hire contractors who can help you with cleaning and maintaining your property. Consider looking for an HVAC repairman or a duct cleaning service provider as well. This way, you don’t need to worry about anything.
Staying cooped up indoors can affect your health and overall well-being. Thus, try your best to schedule an exciting trip alone or with your loved ones. You need to ensure that everyone is safe from the virus. This way, you don’t pose any harm to other people in the community. Also, remind yourself to double-check everything at home, so you can rest assured that your residential property is safe and secured. You can ask a friend or a relative to stay in your home temporarily, so someone can take care of it while you are away. If not, ensure that you have fulfilled all obligations before taking that long vacation.