Although it’s true that Don and I enjoy manufactured home living, we still get the urge to wander a few times a year. One of the great things about living in our retirement community is the freedom to go on vacation whenever we want.
This summer we spent a week in Hawaii and a month in Michigan. Before leaving on vacation we take some time to help prevent an accident or home invasion. We find it helpful to make a vacation checklist that’s designed to safeguard our home and possessions during our absence.
After Don and I complete the checklist we discuss who will do each task and when it should be done. Many of the items on a well-thought-out checklist can be done in advance of the vacation. Since we don’t like to be rushed at the last minute, we start working on the checklist a week or so before our departure.
Here is a sample of the vacation checklist we use. You can tailor this list to suit your own home and community. The idea is to put it in writing and check off each item before leaving on vacation.
Let immediate neighbors know your departure date and estimated return date.
If you live in a manufactured home community like we do, give your park manager the dates you’ll be gone and phone numbers where you can be reached. Be sure to let management know the name and vehicle description of any deliveries or home/lawn caretakers that are expected while you are gone.
Ask a couple of neighbors to keep an eye on your manufactured home and to report suspicious activity to the police. Arrange to give at least one neighbor a key to the home.
If your manufactured home park community has a neighborhood watch group, make sure to let them know you will be gone for a specified time.
Stop mail, newspaper and other deliveries. Ask neighbors to pick up any flyers or papers that are tossed on the driveway or porch. Also ask a neighbor to park a car in the driveway to give the impression someone is at home.
Notify the post office to hold mail until your return.
Since a thief can get into any home by removing a window air conditioner, it’s a good idea to fasten the unit to the sill or the window frame.
Don’t discuss your travel plans in public places. A stranger could overhear you, follow you home and return when you’re on vacation. The fewer people who know about your trip, the safer your home will be.
Keep valuables out of sight. Small valuables such as jewelry or cash should be stored in a safe deposit box. If possible hide larger valuables in an inconspicuous closet so they can’t be seen by a thief.
Place a few motion-sensitive security lights at the rear of your home as well as lawn lights in other dark areas. Thieves love a poorly lighted home, so good lighting around the home is a great deterrent.
Consider installing an alarm system and motion detectors. Do-it-yourself systems are available at home supply or electronic stores. Or buy a professionally installed system.
Trim the shrubs located near windows and entries before you go on vacation. Burglars love to hide behind them.
Arrange to have your lawn mowed by a landscape service or neighbor. A poorly maintained yard can signal thieves that the owners are gone.
Ask a neighbor to set out trash on collection day and then retrieve the empty trash cans and recycling bins the same day.
A few days before you leave, set and activate timers for lights and a radio or TV to be sure they are working properly. Don and I like to use several electronic timers and set them so they turn lights on and off at different times of the day and evening.
Unplug all electrical items, except lights on timers and radio, so they don’t get destroyed by lighting.
Use up food in the refrigerator or give it to a neighbor.
Set your automatic sprinkler system to water the lawn according to local watering restrictions.
Never leave a message that you are gone on vacation on your answering machine message. It’s like leaving an open invitation to thieves.
Close all blinds, draperies and awnings to keep out as much sun and heat as possible.
Close and lock all windows. Easy to install window locks are available at hardware and home supply stores.
Make sure you have good locks! Good door locks help keep thieves out. Experts recommend installing dead bolt locks and a reinforcing strike plate with three-inch screws.
Place security bars (or even a piece of broomstick or a dowel) in the track of all sliding glass doors so they can’t be opened. Don’t forget to lock your storage shed with a heavy-duty lock.
Be sure to turn off water valves to the washing machine, toilets and sinks before leaving. A neighbor of ours forgot to do this and came home to two inches of water throughout the home due to broken water line. Not a pretty sight.
To prevent mold and mildew, set the air conditioning thermostat at 85 degrees. If you have a humidistat set it at 60 percent.
Disable or turn down the ringers on phones so unanswered rings won’t be heard from outside.
Just before you lock the front door, take one last tour of the house to make sure everything is as secure as you can make it.
While there is no foolproof way to protect your home and property when you’re on vacation, most accidents and burglaries can be avoided. Don and I follow a vacation checklist like this one and haven’t experienced a single problem when we are gone. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
For even more information on how to protect your home and belongings before you take your next vacation, check out the Theft Prevention section in the Safety Guide.
To learn more about superior insurance for manufactured homes visit Foremost.com. If you are an AARP member go to AARPForemost.com.
