Preparing Your Apartment for Vacation

Vacation season is officially here, and we are all aching to clear out our daily agendas and escape.  Planning that getaway is exactly what most of us need in order to decompress and return with a renewed perspective.  However, nothing can overturn that newfound feeling of serenity like coming home to an apartment full of foul odors and other unpleasant surprises.  So, before you head out for your much-needed retreat, consult our handy list of ways to prepare your apartment for its temporary vacancy.

Oust the odors before they happen.

What’s the best way to totally spoil your post-vacation carefree bliss?  A smelly home.  Avoid the olfactory assault by taking these very simple precautions:

• Empty your apartment’s refrigerator of any food that may expire before you return home.
• Wash all dishes and wipe down surfaces.
• Empty all waste baskets, recycling bins, and garbage cans in your apartment.
• Wash all dirty laundry before you leave.  Be sure not to leave any wet clothes in the washer or dryer.

Come home to a cool apartment, without the offensive utility bill.

Although temperatures have been on the warmer side lately, there is no need to run your air conditioner constantly in order to return to a comfortable home.  Try these useful tips instead:

• Set your thermostat to a nice moderate temperature.  While this will probably be slightly warmer than your usual settings, avoid setting the temperature too high.  A moderate temperature in your apartment will provide energy savings, while still maintaining a safe environment for your belongings (and pets, if you have them).
• Make sure all of your windows in your apartment are sealed properly, and draw your curtains closed.  Thicker curtains tend to keep more of the heat out.
• Leave ceiling fans running on their lowest speed.

Maintain that relaxed state of mind, even after you return from vacation.

Before leaving your apartment for vacation, try to tie up as many loose ends as possible.  Returning to a mile-long list of things to accomplish will wreck your peaceful state of mind in minutes.  After marking as many items off of your agenda as possible, consider also doing the following things to ensure that your relaxation extends long past your return flight home.

• Before you leave, tidy up any clutter that you may find around your apartment.  It’s so refreshing to return to an orderly home.
• Place fresh linens on your bed before you head out.  Make that first night back in your own comfortable bed as enjoyable as possible.
• Plan your homecoming a day or two before you are scheduled to return to work.  This will give you the opportunity to readjust to the “real world”, rather than having to jump right in.

As a safety and security measure, it’s also recommended that you do whatever you can to avoid allowing your apartment to appear vacant.  Also, while it’s never a good idea to broadcast your plans for escape, it is wise to notify your apartment complex’s leasing office that you will be on vacation.

By taking a few very simple precautions, you can give yourself the freedom to actually enjoy your time away (instead of focusing on what could go wrong).  So, when packing and preparing yourself for the time away, also take the time to prepare your apartment.

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