It may not be long before you can pack up your bags and spend some precious time away with your friends and family, but before you do it’s a good idea to make sure your home is holiday-ready.
Organise mail and deliveries
If you intend to go away for some time then there’s a good chance your letterbox will be overflowing by the time you return. Not only could this alert would-be thieves that nobody’s home, it may result in letters getting lost or destroyed.
To keep this from happening it’s well worth asking a friend or neighbour if they can watch over your property for you (and take out the garbage if that needs doing too).
Alternatively, you can ask Australia Post to hold your mail for you until you return.
Tidy up the yard
It’s well worth preparing your garden for your absence so that everything is still green and thriving when you return.
Mowing your lawn and pruning overgrown trees is essential before heading away on a long holiday. Another thing you should do is give your plants a good watering in case they go without for a while, or you might be able to set up a timer on your watering system if you have one.
If you suspect that there might be harsh and sunny weather while you’re away it may also be worth moving any pot plants to shady spots.
Clean and declutter
There’s nothing like coming home from holidays to a beautiful, clean home.
Don’t forget to clean out your fridge and pantry before you go away, so there’s no nasty out-of-date food left for you when you return.
You may also want to clear away unnecessary clutter around the home to make way for any gifts you received over Christmas (or bargains you buy from Boxing Day sales).
Check security
Make sure all locks and security systems at your home are in working order before you leave. If you find anything that is broken then you should try to make it a priority to have it fixed before you go away.
Before heading away you should also have a good walk around your property to make sure nothing is left lying around that thieves might be tempted to take.
Loose items around the home can also be a hazard during wild weather, so they are best kept locked away somewhere safe.
