You’re standing by the front door with your bag half zipped, the charger still plugged into the wall, and a cup of tea that’s now cold sitting on the kitchen bench. There’s someone else who is questioning whether the passports are packed. Your head is racing with questions about whether you’ve locked the bathroom window; did the bins go out? Did you turn off the stove?

The last hour before traveling can be chaotic and untidy; even when there is careful planning. Some calm home checks prior to departure can provide relief. Not perfection. More of a “less stressed”, “less worried”, and less likely to carry small issues along the way with you.

First, start with the doors and windows

It would be wise to begin with the most obvious areas. Often, these are the places you rush through during home checks. Go through your home and physically check each door. This includes: front door, back door, laundry door, sliding doors, side gates, and internal garage door (from the house). When you touch the handle, lock it and take a brief moment to mentally confirm that this task is complete.

Also, do the same with windows, particularly in bathrooms, bedrooms, and rooms you don’t regularly visit. An open window (even slightly) can cause minor problems, such as wind/rain/dust entering your home while you are away.

If your garage is connected to your house, double-check it. Confirm that both the main doors are completely closed and that there are no obstacles to block their closing. Wait until the sectional garage door opener works fully before exiting the area. Each of these steps takes mere minutes, yet helps silence the voice in your head that says, “Did I lock that?” Roughly halfway to the airport.

Leave the kitchen so you can easily come home to it

Remove trash. Rinse all cups and plates. Clean up crumbs from counters. Remove fruits from the fruit bowl that have begun to soften. Inspect the refrigerator for perishable foods that will spoil before you return.

Run the dishwasher if it is full. Run it or empty it if possible when it is clean. Avoid storing moist dishes in their seals for extended periods. The same applies to the sink. Take a minute or two to wash away excess moisture in order to prevent an unpleasant smell upon your return. Leaving your kitchen relatively tidy is a kind gesture toward your future self.

Review all household items that produce heat, leak water or charge batteries

Before you leave for your trip, take note of silent household hazards that can occur if they are not attended to while you are away.

Check your appliances (stove, oven, kettle, toaster, coffee maker, etc.) to see which ones don’t need to continuously run and deactivate them. When possible, turn off power outlets for these appliances too. 

Next, check how much water is being used through your faucets. Check that all sinks inside your home (bathroom basin, kitchen sink, laundry faucet, etc.), outside your home (outside tap and hose connection), have been turned off completely. It is about identifying obvious issues like dripping faucets, damp spots, and running appliances instead of looking for potential problems everywhere in your home. 

If you plan on going out of town for an extended time (2-5 days plus), it would be best to avoid leaving clothing in the washer. At first, it may seem harmless, but it is going to be very uncomfortable down the road. Your goal with this section of your list is to eliminate obvious risks.

Maintain a calm appearance about being away

Your home doesn’t have to appear perfectly staged while you are absent. It simply needs to be looked after. Pick up loose articles from exterior spaces, including garden cushions, small hand tools, children’s play equipment, lightweight pots and pans, etc. Also, move packages out of view. If you are going to be away past the bin collection date, arrange for someone to collect the bins and replace them once collected.

Use timers or smart lighting options and maintain simplicity. Use only one or two lamps per evening to create a warm glow without illuminating the entire residence. While individually insignificant, collectively these considerations contribute to maintaining your home appearing attended to while you are away.

Provide guidance for someone helping you

Don’t expect assistance from a neighbour/friend/relative by having a hurried conversation with them as you depart for your trip. Provide a concise e-mail/memo or SMS message with necessary information: location of spare key(s), bin collection dates and times, plant watering schedules, lighting on/off schedules and emergency contact information.

In addition to the above-mentioned information, when pet-sitting arrangements have been made for your animals, you should clearly outline: feeding schedules and quantities, medication administration instructions (if applicable), favourite hiding spots, veterinary contact information & any other important information relevant to caring for your pets while you are away.

Create a memo/note to leave on the kitchen counter listing your travel dates and emergency contact information. While perhaps antiquated in today’s technology age, it provides valuable reference information for anyone helping you manage issues occurring in your absence. The easier you make their job, the easier it will be for you to unwind. Conduct one last walk-through before departure. Allow yourself 10 minutes of quiet reflection before you leave.

Once completed, leave for your destination

Travel inherently involves some degree of looseness. Regardless of preparation, there exists an opportunity for forgetting a sock arriving late to your destination, etc. However, when you have paid attention to detail regarding preparations for your home while absent, you create less mental friction as you prepare for departure. Close the door behind you and begin your journey.