It’s an exciting time: You’re thinking about picking up stakes and heading for the open road for a while! Meanwhile, you’re wrapping things up at work, getting the kids ready for time away from school (or shipping them off to a relatives for a week or two). Plus, you’ve got to board the dogs, make sure the lawn is mowed while you’re away, the list goes on and on. So how do you make sure that all of your ducks are in a row before you go (that rhymed!). Well, we’ve accumulated a few tips that you can employ to make sure that you’re prepared for your upcoming journey. From home security tips to advice that you can utilize to ensure that you’ve packed all of the essentials, our list has all of the info that you’ll need to rest easy while you’re away from the abode. And, always, you can count on Fifteen Alarms for that bit about home security if you live here in the Memphis area. Let’s delve in to our list of tips you can use to prepare for your time away from home.

Home Security

As Memphis’ home security providers, let’s start with what we know best: how to ensure that your home is safe while you’re away. It’s a wise choice to have a home security system installed in your home to keep you (and the authorities) notified if there should be a break in. It’s also a good idea to have your security system linked up with your fire alarms and the carbon monoxide detector in your home (especially if you’re keeping pets in the house while you’re away).

With Fifteen Alarms, we can hook you up with a home security system that constantly monitors your home, including door and window security latches, your fire alarms, and your carbon monoxide detector. Beyond that, we offer a variety of additional features that can be seamlessly integrated with your system. For instance, you can access your home’s security system remotely from our security app. You’ll be able to monitor any cameras that you’ve set up throughout the house (so that you can check up on your cat, Beatrice, from time to time). You can also control the lights, temperature and a slew of other fixtures throughout your home while you’re away. You can even lock and unlock the doors of your home with our remote locks, so that you can let in guests who are staying at your place while you’re gone, or your neighbor, Betty, who has promised to water your plants once per week during your three-month sabbatical to Europe — you can also leave a copy of your house key with a close friend or trusted family member, in case you need anything from your home while you’re away. With proper planning and home security services from Fifteen Alarms, you’ll have peace of mind that your home is well-protected and monitored 24 hours per day.

Make Plans for Your Kids, Plants, and Pets

Unless you’re taking along the whole household, you’ll have to plan ahead to ensure that your kiddos are cared for, your plants are watered, and your pets are comfortable while you’re away. If you’re leaving the kids behind, be sure that they have a sitter who can stay with them overnight. Trust a family member or friend who has experience hanging out with your kids. You can also send your kids off to a camp for some fun and a vacation of their own. If you have a child that is old enough to care for the rest of their kin, be sure to lay out clear instructions and leave behind an allowance so that they can care for and feed the others in the house. Also, leave behind an emergency contact list, and check up on your kiddos throughout the trip.

Next, be sure to get a pet sitter for your animals, so that they get food, fresh water, and a chance to relieve themselves throughout the day. If you’re hiring help, be sure to leave a checklist with feeding instructions, walking instructions (for doggos), litter box instructions (for cats), medicine instructions, you name it. Think about the care that you provide for your pets throughout a routine day, and list all of the things that you do and when you tend to do them, so that your pet isn’t confused or lonely while you’re away.

Don’t neglect your houseplants! If your home is a veritable greenhouse, you’ll have to have someone stop by to water your plants throughout your vacation. You should set up a watering schedule with clear instructions on which plants to water, and how much each plant needs. You can organize all of your plants in one convenient, sunny location to make it easy for someone to give them a splash of water when they’re thirsty. You can even organize your plants by how often they need to be watered, if you’d like to make it especially easy for their caretaker.

Place Holds on Deliveries and Such

If you’re going to be away from your home for a week or more, it might be a good idea to put a hold on mail deliveries to your house. Similarly, you can put a hold on any newspapers that are scheduled to be delivered. Do you get milk delivered to your doorstep? Better cancel that milk delivery for the time being. Also, remember that you won’t be receiving any bills in the mail while you’re away, so be sure to pay those bills ahead of time, or set up direct deposit online for any necessary accounts. If you aren’t going to put a hold on your mail and newspaper deliveries, it’s a good idea to have someone grab your mail, packages, and newspapers while you are gone. A full mailbox is an indication that your home is vacant, which may cue a burglar to break in!

Passports, Insurance, and Other Documentation

Now, if you’re leaving the country, or even just leaving the state, you’ll need to have a few items handy. Make sure your passport is up to date and will remain valid throughout your trip if you’re traveling abroad. If you’re sticking to the states, you’ll at least need a valid ID or driver’s license. You should also leave a copy of these documents with a family member or close friend, in case you should lose the original. Take a photo of your information with your phone while you’re at it. You should also print off an itinerary (or send it via email) to friends and family members, so that they know where you should be throughout your trip. You can also invest in travel insurance before you go — which is highly recommended if you’re bringing valuables, like a laptop, along with you on your journey.

Pack the Essentials

Are you ready to start packing? Well it’s time to make sure that you have all of the essentials that you’ll need while you’re out on an adventure. Be sure to pack all of the medicine that you need for your trip, and re-up on prescriptions before you embark on your journey. Also, you should bring some extra cash to keep handy if you misplace a credit card. Bring your phone chargers and all other charges that you’ll need for you electronic devices (as well as the devices themselves). You can also invest in a map for your destination (some places have poor GPS locating, like Venice, so your phone may prove to be ineffective for directions). Buy a translation dictionary too, since you may get caught out there without a phone, or your phone may die mid-translation. Consider the little things that you’ll need too. Is it going to be sunny all the time? Bring sunscreen. What if it’s rainy? Pack an umbrella. Imagine living through a day at your destination, and pack all of the items that you’ll need to make the most of it. And don’t forget your passport, plane tickets, and all the other docs that we mentioned above.

Home Security Starts Here

A bit of preparation will prove to make your journey comfortable and carefree. We hope that you’ll make the most of your adventure with our tips. And, of course, you can continue to count on us for 24/7 home protection while you’re away — we provide home security solutions for folks throughout Memphis and the surrounding area!

Bon voyage!