When you’re away from home, many things can potentially go wrong, and your arrival will be met with chaos and carnage instead of quiet luxury welcoming you back from your adventures.

Whether you are away for a weekend trip or you are out of the country for a longer time, let’s take a look at some of the home disasters that can occur when you are away. By putting effective measures in place, you can limit the risks and minimise damage and disruption, giving you a sense of control over your home’s safety.

Leaks

Coming home to find your property has been converted into an improvised swimming pool isn’t the welcome home you requested. Water damage, even from small leaks, can be quite substantial. You can avoid water damage mostly by turning the water supply off while you are away, but burst pipes or leaking toilets can still deliver unexpected water issues.

An emergency plumber should be your first call if you arrive home to a water disaster. However, talking to plumbers prior to leaving or having your plumbing checked and painted on a regular basis can help you limit the risk of leaks and floods and keep your plumbing in top condition.

Pest Infestation

If you’re vacationing away from your property for any period of time, the last thing you want is to find unwanted guests of any variety who have taken up residence in your absence. An infestation of any type of pests isn’t a nice welcome home gift, and the cost of remedying the situation, not to mention the disruption to your life, can be massive. From mice to spiders, wasps, ants, or any other pest you might be at risk of having to live with, securing your property from this nuisance means ensuring you are not doing anything that encourages habitation within your home and you’re putting defences in place to restrict entry. If you do come to this nasty surprise, calling an exterminator will be your best course of action to remove the problem quickly. Remember, a pest infestation can damage your property and pose health risks to you and your family. 

Burglary

Home burglaries are a common issue for travellers, and the reason is simply that criminals who have taken advantage of the situation have not detected any activity or people coming and going.

Luckily, there are multiple things you can do to help you limit or reduce the risk of falling victim to this invasive crime. By employing different tools and actions, you can strengthen your defences against burglars and ensure that you come home to a property exactly as you left it, providing you with a sense of relief and reassurance.

No Electricity

This can happen for multiple reasons. Your energy provider might be experiencing an outage, meaning not just you but the entire area is out of electricity. Or if you have missed a bill, especially if you’re overdue prior to going away, or you might have had an electrical issue within the home that has caused the electricity to shut off. Typically, checking the circuit for any tripped switches can alert you to this issue and get you back up and running; however, severe electrical problems with your wiring system might render it unsafe, meaning you need to get an electrician out. Having your electricity checked periodically can reduce the risk of significant issues while you are away from home, as can turning off all appliances that consume electricity to put less pressure on the system, as well as keeping bills down.

Accumulating Mail

No one wants to come home from their travels to see a massive pile of bills resting behind the front door or in their mailbox. An easy answer to this issue is to have it redirected for delivery or collection when you arrive home. You can do this by contacting your local post office. While it’s not a major issue, the presence of piling mail indicates to people no one is home and puts you at greater risk of being burgled before you arrive home. So, if you don’t want the problem of being confronted by copious amounts of mail, have it redirected until you come back for added peace of mind.

While you’re away, life at home doesn’t pause. Things will still continue going as if you were there, and herein lies the importance of being proactive. By keeping your home in a good state of repair and removing the chances of coming home to major problems, you can feel prepared and in control of your home’s safety.