Your Home Travel Prep Checklist

I love to travel. And over the years,   I've learned that the difference between a truly relaxing trip and one where you're lying awake in a hotel room wondering if you left the stove on comes down to one thing: a solid before-you-go routine.

So I made one. And I use it every single time we leave home for more than a couple of days. I call it my 16 T's Checklist, and yes, every single item on the list starts with the letter T.

[ Download your free copy of the 16 T's Checklist right here!]

Let me walk you through it so you know exactly what you're getting.

To Do in Advance

These are the things to handle a few days before you leave, not at the last minute when you're already frazzled. 

Transport — Check what's coming to you. Put a hold on your mail and newspaper delivery through the USPS, and ask a neighbor to grab any packages that may arrive while you're gone. A pile of packages on a doorstep is basically a neon sign that nobody's home.

Trim — Arrange for lawn care or a snow shoveling service so your home looks lived-in and occupied. An overgrown lawn in summer or an unshoveled driveway in winter are both giveaways that you're away.

Trust — Leave a house key and alarm information with a trusted neighbor or local friend. Things happen, and having someone who can check on your home is worth its weight in gold. 

On the Day Of

These are the items to tackle on departure day, ideally before you get in the car or are off to the airport.

Thermostat — Set it to maintain a reasonable temperature while you're gone. For air conditioning, 80 to 85 degrees works well. For heat, 50 to 55 degrees is the sweet spot. And don't forget to press HOLD so the schedule doesn't override your settings!

Toss — Clear out anything in the fridge that will spoil while you're away, and toss any fresh flowers. Run the garbage disposal too. Coming home to a stench is not the welcome-back you want.

Timers — Set timers on lamps in at least two different rooms of your home so it looks occupied at different times of the evening. This is one of the simplest and most effective security steps you can take.

Trash — Empty every trash can in the house, especially the kitchen. Then arrange for someone to put your bins out on collection day and bring them back in. Another occupied-home signal that matters more than people realize.

Taps — Turn off the water at the main if you don't need it running for outdoor watering. If you do need outdoor water, turn off the water at individual sinks and toilets instead. A burst pipe while you're away is nobody's idea of a vacation souvenir.

Temperature — Switch your water heater to "Vacation" mode. Why heat water all that time while you’re away?

Thunderstorms — Secure any outdoor furniture or yard décor that could become a projectile in high winds. Summertime storms, especially, can be a worry while you're away.

TVs & Appliances — Unplug t'v's, computers, printers, and other electronics that could be damaged by a power surge during a storm. Takes two minutes and can save you a very expensive headache.

Transport II — Lock your vehicles if you are leaving them at home, and if you have a garage, use it. A car sitting in a driveway for a week is another signal that you might be away.

Thirsty — Water your plants before you go, or arrange for someone to come in and do it. I have learned this lesson the hard way more than once.

Tidy — Make your bed and do a quick tidy before you walk out the door. Coming home to a clean, welcoming house after a long travel day is such a gift to your future self.

Tea — This is my personal favorite on the whole list. Freeze your leftover milk before you leave! When you get home, thaw it out, and it's ready for your morning coffee or tea without an extra trip to the store on the day you're already exhausted from travel. Tiny tip, huge payoff.

Toilets — Make sure they're all flushed before you go. Enough said.  

Sixteen items, all starting with T, all easy to remember and even easier to check off. This list has saved me from coming home to dead plants, a smelly fridge, and at least one near-disaster with the water.

Print it, save it to your phone, or bookmark this page and come back to it every time you pack a suitcase. And if you want a beautiful printable version to keep in your travel file, grab the free download below!

[ Download the Free 16 T's Checklist!]

Safe travels and enjoy every single moment!