For many people, traveling for an extended period or finding a vacation home somewhere you want to stay for more than a week or two may be the fulfillment of a lifelong dream or bucket list item. While you may be eager to hit the road, there are steps you should take first to ensure a safe and stress-free trip.
First, determine where you are going to stay for your time away from home. If you are planning to go to one location and stay there, this process will not be that difficult or time-consuming. However, if you are planning to travel to multiple locations, this process can be slow. You don’t want to arrive somewhere only to discover your rental was overbooked or located in an undesirable area.
Most areas have their tourism bureau or chamber of commerce that can help you figure out where you should stay during your visit. For example, when going somewhere like Mackinac Island, you can find island vacation lodging through the Tourism Bureau. If visiting a lake town like Vermilion, Ohio, you’ll need to contact the chamber of commerce.
Depending on the length of time you will be gone, you may need to rent a storage unit to store some of your belongings. Storing some of your belongings will allow you to rent out your home while you are gone, or have people checking on your home without needing to be concerned with your valuables. Storing your valuables can also be a significant stress relief, so you do not need to worry about being the victim of a crime. Sadly, if you are away for an extended period, people are more likely to notice your home is being left unattended, which can make it a target.
Self Storage Finders is an online company that can help you find a storage unit in your area. You can search by location, size, and price to ensure you get what you will need for the number of items you wish to store. You can locate storage units that are temperature-controlled and guaranteed dry to ensure your possessions are safe and secure while you are gone. For many people, their primary concern is storing valuable vehicles or other price items, including boats, jet skis, or motorcycles.
You will also need to have your mail held or forwarded to wherever you will be staying. Forwarding your mail will involve going to the post office and filling out some paperwork. If you are not renting out your home while you are away, you can have all the non-essential utilities shut off to save you money. Services may include water and trash pickup. If it is summer, you decide to turn off your electric and gas, as well. During the winter months, it is crucial to keep your home heating, so your house does not sustain damage.
You will also want to let your local police department know you are leaving for an extended period. Most small towns have the luxury of a highly localized police department that can help keep an eye on your home while you are away. Letting trusted family or neighbors know also will provide you with the peace of mind that your home is looked after.
Finally, let a close friend or family member know you are leaving and ask them to check in on your house from time to time. Even if they only stop once a week, having someone go in and out of your home is positive. When houses sit empty for a long time, they can become targets for vandalism or burglary. Letting someone stay in your house from time to time or visit will make it less likely that your home will become a target.
