{"id":5981,"date":"2025-07-04T09:19:36","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T09:19:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vonkdemo.com\/how-to-vacation-proof-your-home-this-summer\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T08:38:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T15:38:25","slug":"how-to-vacation-proof-your-home-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/how-to-vacation-proof-your-home-this-summer\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Vacation-Proof Your Home This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3>Peace of Mind While You\u2019re Away<\/h3>\n<p>Heading out on vacation this summer? Whether you\u2019re gone for a weekend or several weeks, preparing your home before you leave can make all the difference.<\/p>\n<p>Vacation-proofing your home helps prevent issues, protects your property, and lets you relax knowing things are safe and sound while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n<h3>Secure Entry Points<\/h3>\n<p>Check all doors and windows to ensure they\u2019re closed and locked. This includes basement windows, side doors, and garage access points. If you have a security system, make sure it\u2019s armed and connected to your monitoring service.<\/p>\n<p>Smart locks, doorbell cameras, and motion-sensor lighting can provide extra peace of mind and even let you check in while you\u2019re gone.<\/p>\n<h3>Pause Deliveries and Mail<\/h3>\n<p>An overflowing mailbox or a stack of packages on your doorstep is a clear sign no one\u2019s home. Place a temporary hold on your mail through the postal service and pause package deliveries, or ask a neighbor to collect them.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also a good idea to stop regular newspaper deliveries or subscription boxes while you\u2019re away.<\/p>\n<h3>Use Smart Lighting or Timers<\/h3>\n<p>Interior lights on timers\u2014or smart bulbs controlled by an app\u2014can help your home appear lived-in, even when it\u2019s empty. Program lights to mimic your usual patterns in key rooms like the living room, kitchen, or hallway.<\/p>\n<p>Avoid leaving lights on all day or night, which can actually signal that no one\u2019s home.<\/p>\n<h3>Prepare Appliances and Utilities<\/h3>\n<p>Unplug small appliances like toasters, coffee makers, and electronics to save energy and reduce fire risk. Set your thermostat a few degrees higher (but not off) to maintain airflow and reduce humidity.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re away for an extended time, consider turning off the water at the main valve or at least to sinks, toilets, and washing machines to prevent leaks.<\/p>\n<h3>Ask Someone to Check In<\/h3>\n<p>If possible, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to check on your home every few days. They can water plants, bring in packages, and quickly spot any problems like leaks or power outages.<\/p>\n<p>Leave them with a way to contact you and, if needed, access to your home in case of emergency.<\/p>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>A little preparation goes a long way when it comes to keeping your home secure while you\u2019re away. Vacation-proofing gives you the freedom to relax and enjoy your time off without worrying about what\u2019s happening back home.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re heading to the mountains, the beach, or just visiting family, taking a few extra steps before you leave ensures you\u2019ll return to your home just as you left it\u2014safe, secure, and ready to welcome you back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Peace of Mind While You\u2019re Away Heading out on vacation this summer? Whether you\u2019re gone for a weekend or several weeks, preparing your home before you leave can make all the difference. Vacation-proofing your home helps prevent issues, protects your property, and lets you relax knowing things are safe and sound while you\u2019re away. Secure&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":5983,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mbp_gutenberg_autopost":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[221],"tags":[],"post_series":[],"class_list":["post-5981","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-owner-tips","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5981","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5981"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5981\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7153,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5981\/revisions\/7153"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5981"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5981"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5981"},{"taxonomy":"post_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mega5.vonkdigital.com\/~collinatchinson\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_series?post=5981"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}