Disney World Quick Tips – Keeping your house safe

Most of us take months or even years to plan the perfect vacation to Walt Disney World or Disneyland.  We make our reservations, book our dining, pack our bags and save our pennies.  But, how many of us actually have a plan for our house while we are away?  Here is a list of things to consider before your vacation to keep your house safe.

▪                If you leave pets at home, remember to care for them!  Have a neighbor feed your pets or make arrangements for them to stay at your vet’s office.

▪                Contact the post office to put your mail on hold.  You can do this online at www.usps.com.  Contact your newspaper deliverer to put a hold on your newspapers.  Piles of newspapers sitting in your driveway is a dead giveaway that you are out of town.

▪                Have a neighbor check your porch for any deliveries while you are away.  You don’t want them sitting on your porch all week!

▪                If you trust your neighbors, let them know you will be traveling.  Ask them to check on your house and give them numbers where you can be reached- just in case!  Ask them to take your garbage to the street the night before pick up.

▪                Use plug in timers inside your house to have different lamps, radios or TVs come on throughout the day- especially at night.

▪                If possible, leave a car in your driveway.  It helps make the house look like someone is home.

▪                Adjust the temperature on your air conditioner.  Set it about 10 degrees below the average outside temp while you are away, but don’t turn it off completely.  This will help save some money you can be using in Disney!

▪                Unplug appliances and electronics that will not be used while on vacation (don’t unplug the ones attached to the timers!).   You’ll save some money and it will help cut back on the chance you’ll lose an appliance in a power surge.

▪                Turn off your water and gas.  Turn off water at the street, if you can.  If not, shut off the water to your dishwasher and washing machine.  Pressure surges can cause a hose to burst.  Turn off the pilot light to your gas and turn off the water heater.

▪                Last, lock your doors and close your garage and set the alarm, if you have one!