Some people just can’t be tied down to one place for too long or else they will lose their mind. They have a burning desire to travel the world and experience new cultures as often as they can because seeing the world beyond their doorstep gives their lives meaning.
Of course, nowadays, the term jet-set no longer just pertains to wealthy people who have their own jets and travel anywhere in the world for pleasure. That’s because the jet-set lifestyle is available to anyone who can afford it, no matter their social or economic status.
But just because you have claimed the life of a jet-setter doesn’t mean that you can leave everything behind to travel the world. You will still need a home base that you can return to in between your travels, which means that you can’t sell your house or place all your belongings in a storage facility.
This is especially true if your travels won’t last longer than a week or two at most. If you’re going to spend more than half a year continuously traveling, then it would make sense to sell your house. But if you’re only taking a few days to a week several times a year, then here’s what you need to do to ensure that your house will be ready:
Secure Your Home
Houses that sit untouched for a long time are more prone to break-ins and invasions, primarily because thieves may notice that there is no movement or activity within. And you won’t want to worry about your house being broken into while you’re traveling the world, especially if you’re enjoying your time away.
That means that you have to secure your home before you leave it indefinitely. You can install a security system that will allow you to check your house once in a while from your mobile device. Having a comprehensive home security system can assure you that your house will be safe while you’re not there to guard it.
Another option that you have is to install strategic smart home upgrades in your house. For instance, you can have motorized modern roller shades installed on your windows, which you can control from your phone. You can also program them to open and close on a schedule, which can deter thieves from attempting to break in because the movement can signal them that there’s someone at home.
Get Rid of Your Perishables
If you know that you’re going away for a long time, then you should make sure that you’re not leaving any perishables behind. You should either ensure that you’re going to finish the food you buy in between your travels, or at least store them properly inside your fridge and freezer.
Don’t make the mistake of forgetting perishable food on your counters because that can welcome an entire ecosystem of bacteria and pests while you’re away. There’s nothing worse than coming home to flies and maggots in your kitchen after an amazing week at the beach.
Aside from the perishables that you consume, there’s also the case of the perishables in your trash. It’s not impossible to forget to throw your garbage when you’re excited about leaving the following day, but that can mean that you’re going to come home to a filthy house with insects occupying the space you left behind.
Conserve Energy and Water
As a responsible homeowner, it is your duty to make sure that your house will not be wasting water or energy while you’re away. There are many appliances or electronics that consume just as much energy when they are turned off as they do when they are on, simply because they are left plugged in.
This is called phantom power use or vampire electricity, and it’s the consumption of energy even when the appliance is not in use. That means that even if you’re not home to consume electricity, if you left everything plugged in, then your electric bill will remain the same.
So, if you know that you’re going to be out of the house for a while, then make sure to unplug all the unnecessary devices from your sockets. Doing so can also lessen the chances of an accidental house fire, especially because you’re not there to troubleshoot the problem.
While there’s no such thing as vampire water consumption, there are things like leaks and improperly closed taps that can waste water. This can be prevented by closing your main water line before you leave indefinitely so that you can avoid the problem altogether.
Just because you’re ready to spend money on traveling the world doesn’t mean you’re keen on wasting money on expenses that can be avoided. You should be spending your money on experiences and not to pay your vampire electric bill or to have your house professionally cleaned because there are insects everywhere.
