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You are here: Home / Travel Planning / Leaving the House – A Vacation Checklist

Leaving the House – A Vacation Checklist

Leaving the House – A Vacation Checklist

Getting out the door before a trip can be the most stressful part of travel.

A misstep here could result in a significant inconvenience (at best) or disaster (at worst).

We’ve compiled a list of things to prepare to help you leave the house safe and sound.

A month before leaving the house

Arrange for a housesitter, if necessary

Ask a neighbor or hire a teen.

If this is an extended trip, or you have pets, consider using Trusted Housesitters or Normador.

These housesitting services connect homeowners with travelers for a win-win housesitting experience.

Extra Pack of Peanuts has a podcast episode and information on all things housesitting:

How to Score Incredible Accommodations for Free!

EPOP 032: Housesitting 101

handing over a set of green keys when leaving the house

Make reservations for pets

If you have pets and need to board them, set up a reservation well ahead, especially if traveling during a peak season.

Get the car serviced (for road trips) 

If you’re going to service the car yourself:

Check the tire pressure

Check the oil

Fill windshield washer fluid

Check the coolant

Check brake and transmission fluid

Check headlights, brake lights and turn signals

Be sure the spare tire is ready to go

old cars at a vintage gas station

Make grooming appointments 

If you plan to have your hair done or visit any beauty professional, make arrangements well ahead.

A week before leaving the house

Let neighbors know we will be gone

And be sure to program their phone number into your cell phone.

If you have a housesitter or anyone you’re expecting to drop by, let the neighbor know.

Make a grocery list

Include snacks for the plane or road trip.

Camping trips seem to require a HUGE amount of food!

Snacks for Air Travel

Clear out the fridge

Eat up the perishables.

Plan a quick meal for the return

Having something in the freezer or the ingredients for a simple, go-to meal will be a huge help.

It means you don’t have to run to the store right away or eat out (yet again).

Your future self will thank you for thinking of this.

Stock a supply box in the car

Some suggestions:

Wet wipes

Paper towels

Tissue

Water

Anything in our 10 Must-Haves post is a good idea for a car supply box.

Baggie filled with emergency travel items for leaving the house

Confirm reservations

After two “unbooked” hotel reservations, I never skip this step.

It’s easy to get distracted or confused when booking lodging. For whatever reason, you think you made a reservation, but the hotel doesn’t know you exist.

This is easy to deal with from the comfort of your living room – it’s not so fun when you show up at the front desk.

Get all necessary directions, numbers, and addresses

Navigation systems let us down sometimes.

Avoid confusion by having the address and phone number of your destination written on a piece of paper.

If you think there’s even a remote chance of losing cell coverage, print a copy of the directions.

I know, old-school, but this little ounce of prevention could save hours of frustration.

folded map

Check prescription medications 

Will you have enough to get through the trip?

Take photos of the labels (stored on your phone).

Pay bills

Check the calendar and see if anything is going to come due during your trip.

I like to look ahead a few days after our return; it can take time to get back into a routine.

Notify your bank and credit cards

If traveling internationally, call your bank and let them know.

Alert your credit card company too.

Consider doing this for domestic travel.

We rarely have a problem using our cards in-country.

But a few weeks ago, I went to a grocery store 5 hours from our hometown and tried to buy a large denomination gift card.

Hello, fraud alert!

Most credit cards and many banks allow you to place travel notifications online.

black leather wallet stuffed with cards


Grooming

Take care of your grooming needs – or go to those appointments you scheduled a month ago.

Haircuts, color, nails, waxing, and anything else you need.

Prep food

If you are preparing a significant amount of food (i.e., a camping trip), now’s the time to get started.

I like to freeze as many things as possible.

The cold food adds back-up ice to the cooler and keeps the food safe a little longer.

The day before leaving the house

Stop mail if necessary

And if you get a newspaper (what?),  stop that delivery too.

Suspend or delay any automatic deliveries from Amazon, Costco, Thrive, subscription boxes, etc…

USPS Hold Mail Service

white mailbox with the number 20 on the side

 

Make copies

Make a copy of the contents of your wallet, your passport, travel visa, and ID.

Keep this tucked away, possibly in the lining of your carry-on, in case your documents get stolen.

And while you’re in your wallet, clean out any unnecessary items. You don’t need to take your coffee shop loyalty card around the world.

As a backup, save all this information, along with photos in your password organizer. We like Last Pass.

Check the weather

Do you need to add or subtract anything on your packing list?

Wash all laundry and put away

Just be sure to transfer that last load out of the washing machine.

I like to prop the door of the washer open while we are away; it can get a little musty.

Tidy up the house and yard

It’s so lovely to come home to a neat house.

Check the yard for loose items to put away, mow the lawn, and water if needed.

Clean out the car

See above.

Hand holding a yellow sponge washing a car

Water indoor plants

Or leave instructions for the housesitter.

Fill the car with gas

Grocery shopping

Pick up snacks appropriate for the flight or road trip.

Pick up cash

We like to take $100 in dollar bills for every 10 days we will be gone.

Dollars come in handy for tipping, small purchases, and street vendors.

Tipping Etiquette: Are You Confident or Confused?

dollar bills in a pile

Return library books

You don’t want to get dinged by the fines.

Backup computer

Whether I’m taking my laptop or not, I find leaving on a trip a good reminder to update my external hard drive.

Download podcasts, audiobooks, and movies

Besides my local library, some of my favorite places to download media are:

Scribd

Podcast Addict

Amazon Prime – Try it FREE for 30 Days

Woman sitting in front of computer holding her phone

Charge electronics

Check phones, tablets, laptops, and camera batteries.

Read this article about using public USB ports (spoiler alert: it’s a bad idea).

Why You Should Never Use Airport USB Charging Stations

Decide what time to leave the house

When to leave is a surprisingly charged topic for many couples.

I thought we were the only ones to start every trip by bickering.

Not so, many people have told me they have disagreements with their travel partners before they even leave the house.

Agree before the rush.

Check into your flight online

Be sure the flight is on-time, and the gate hasn’t changed.

Pick your seat and print boarding passes, if needed.

airplane at the loading dock

Post-it notes

Put a note on the door to remind you to grab last-minute items.

A phone charger, eyeglasses, curling iron, and pillow are a few examples.

Hour before leaving the house

Turn off water valves to the washing machine

Turn off or unplug other water sources

I unplug my instant-hot water heater, so it doesn’t run unnecessarily.

Consider turning off the valve that supplies water to your fridge, if it’s accessible.

Unplug electronics and appliances

Especially delicate ones, like TV’s, the printer, computers, etc.

Yes, it saves a few pennies of electricity, but the main reason is to prevent power surges.

We had a small TV “blow” during an electrical storm.

Check the stove and oven to be sure everything is OFF.

Turn down the heat

Or adjust the thermostat if it’s programmable.

Flush toilets

Put in a dash of vinegar and close the lid.

For extended trips, it’s worthwhile to cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

This slows water evaporation, which can cause a permanent ring in the bowl.

Trash out

Turn on lights or set a timer

Lock all exterior doors

You can also disable your garage door opener.

Regardless, remove any openers from parked cars and store them in the house.

key in a deadbolt

Set the alarm, if needed

Finale

When you get in the car, have everyone hold up their wallet, picture ID, and passport.

Do you have paper tickets of any kind?

Don’t assume – lay eyes on these things.

The one time someone leaves their passport in the house, and you catch it before arriving at the airport, you will send me flowers!

Did I miss anything? What do you do to leave the house before a trip?

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