December is just around the corner and hopefully you are planning a fun summer trip to celebrate with family, or to just get away for a much-needed end-of-year break. Before you hit the road or head to the airport, however, make sure your home is holiday-ready with these important home checks.
1. Clean out the fridge
No-one wants to come home to a fridge full of rotten, smelly food. Either eat, freeze or give away any food that can’t be kept for long, especially those with an expiry date that’s coming up soon. If you’re worried about the risk of load shedding while you’re away it might be better to ask a friend or loved one with a generator to store your frozen goods in their freezer.
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In addition to the fridge, make sure you remove fruits and vegetables from your kitchen countertops, they generally have a very short shelf life.
2. Unplug electronics
Not only does this reduce the risk of fire, it can also reduce your energy consumption and protects your appliances from damage resulting from potential surges as a result of load shedding or electric storms.
3. Check all the windows and doors
Don’t have the classic ‘Did I lock the back door?’ wave of panic two hours into your road trip. Take a minute to do a proper walk around your home and ensure everything is closed and locked. Make sure you haven’t left any seldom-used doors or windows unlocked or cracked open.
4. Take the rubbish out
Coming home to rotting rubbish is not an ideal way to end a good holiday. Clean out your bins and recycling before you head out. Get rid of anything that might decompose and attract bugs and vermin.
5. Check for leaks
Look at all your taps and water points to check for leaks and do any necessary maintenance before your trip. If you’re going to be gone for more than a week, it’s a good idea to turn off your main water supply and switch off your geyser while you’re at it.
6. Test your home alarm
Don’t check your alarm five minutes before you hop in your car. Test your security system weeks ahead so that if you find it’s not working there is no last-minute panic. It’s a busy time for security companies and the odds of a technician coming out for repairs immediately are slim, particularly if they need to order parts and so on.
It’s also a good time of year to review your security setup and decide whether you want to do any upgrades before the festive season, when break-ins are common.
Lastly, make sure your security company has your current details and knows how to get hold of you or anyone you have asked to look after your property while you are away.
Image: iStock
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