12 Must-Do Tasks Before Thanksgiving Travel

If you’re traveling to be with family this Thanksgiving, there are a few things to do before you hit the road. The items below will help you close the door before you head to the airport with a sense of peace that everything’s squared away. We have a few safety and security tips, as well as a few smaller suggestions to help you come home to a neat and tidy house – a great feeling! 

Secure Your Home

Your home’s security will certainly be your first priority. Start by making sure all the windows and doors are locked. And don’t forget less obvious entry points like the garage door, basement windows, or any side gates. If you have an alarm system, now’s the time to double-check the app on your phone and see if all your cameras and motion sensors are working properly. Smart locks, video doorbells, and motion-sensitive lights are great ways to keep an eye on your property from anywhere in the world. 

Don’t Broadcast Your Vacation

Continuing with the theme of security, don’t share your vacation plans on social media. Public posts about your upcoming trip will only alert bad actors that your home will be empty. Only tell your trusted friends and wait to share the good news with others until you get back home again. Also, make sure you either stop your mail or have a friend or neighbor stop by to pick it up every day. Nothing screams, “I’m not home,” like an overflowing mailbox or Amazon boxes piling up at the front door. 

Set Your Thermostat and Lights

While taking a vacation is usually expensive, there is one way to save – your electric bill! Set your thermostat to an energy-saving mode to avoid heating or cooling an empty house. If you’re going somewhere in the wintertime, one thing to consider is setting your thermostat high enough to prevent your pipes from freezing. Lighting can also deter thieves. Again, smart plugs are a great investment so you can monitor them remotely. But simple timers on a few lamps will also do the trick. Program them to turn on and off at times that mainly mimic your usual routines. 

Unplug Unnecessary Electronics

This could be another opportunity for a small cost savings. It will also eliminate the risk of any power surges or electrical fires. Things like your coffee maker, TV, and gaming consoles don’t need to be plugged in when you’re done. For devices that need to stay running, like your fridge, consider installing a surge protector.