A Vacation Checklist for Apartment Dwellers

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Whether you’re getting away for the weekend or going on an extended trip, it’s important to prepare your apartment for your vacation.

Here’s our apartment checklist you can review before you hit the road.

  1. Talk with your property management team. Let the manager or staff know when you’re leaving for vacation and when you’ll return. Provide them with contact information, so they can easily reach you if there’s a problem.
  2. Lock up. Double check windows and patio/balcony doors before you depart.
  3. Unplug electronics. That will help you cut energy expenses, especially since you won’t use your appliances while you’re gone. Unplug items such as toasters, coffee makers, blenders, lamps, moveable fans, computers, TVs and chargers.
  4. Turn the thermostat down or up. Turn off the air conditioning in the summer or turn down the heat in the winter while you’re on vacation, so you won’t waste money heating or cooling an empty apartment.
  5. Arrange pet care. Friends and family may help care for pets, but if not, give yourself plenty of time to find a suitable boarding facility.
  6. Check your car. Remove all valuables from your car if you’re leaving it at home. Park it in a shaded spot or use a windshield cover to protect the interior from sun damage. Don’t forget to roll up all the windows.
  7. Stow valuable items. That includes the items you removed from your car. Place important papers, expensive items, electronics and jewelry in a secure location, like a safe. If that’s not an option, consider leaving valuables with a family member or friend.
  8. Put a hold on your mail or have someone collect it. That will prevent envelopes from piling up in your mailbox. You can place and remove a mail hold online. Don’t have any packages delivered while you’re gone.
  9. Have someone check on your apartment. Ask a loved one to stop by your apartment during your trip. They can water your houseplants, open or close the curtains and keep an eye on your belongings.
  10. Prepare your space for when you return. It’ll be a relief to come home to a tidy apartment after your vacation. Take out the garbage and recyclables so they don’t create an odor. Put away clothes, shoes and other clutter. Change your bedding so you’ll have fresh sheets to sleep in when you return.
  11. Don’t announce your vacation on social media. You don’t want to draw unwanted attention to your empty apartment, which could put it at risk for a break-in.

Contact Preferred Living to learn about our vacation notification policy. Our property management staff will work with you to collect mail and packages and ensure your apartment stays secure.

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