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How to Prepare a Home Before Extended Travel
When as a homeowner you are getting ready for a long trip away from home, you know you need to prepare a home before extended travel plans actually take shape. Most of us will need to spend time and energy organising our homes ahead of a long absence from home, whether it’s to declutter and clear out rooms to make space for housesitters, or simply to organise yourself and your home for your being away. Read on to learn our top tips on how to get ready.
The Complete Guide: How to Prepare a Home Before Extended Travel
Photo Credit – Lamia Walker
Planning an extended trip is exciting. The anticipation of new experiences, the thrill of adventure, and the promise of relaxation all make the countdown feel endless. But before you pack your bags and head out the door, there’s one crucial thing that often gets overlooked: preparing your home.
Leaving your house for weeks or even months requires more than just locking the front door. Your home needs attention, care, and sometimes significant reorganization to ensure everything runs smoothly while you’re away.
Whether you’re embarking on a long awaited for sabbatical, visiting family for an extended period, or simply taking that dream vacation you’ve always wanted, getting your home ready makes all the difference. It protects your property, gives you peace of mind, and ensures you return to a welcoming space rather than a disaster zone.
This guide, on how to prepare a home before extended travel, walks you through everything you need to consider before heading off on your next adventure.
Decluttering and Reorganizing Your Space
A priority when you prepare a home before extended travel is clearing up your space. You have to take a hard look at your living space. Clutter accumulates faster than most of us realize. That stack of magazines from last year, the boxes in the garage you haven’t opened since your last move, the closet stuffed with clothes you never wear.
Extended travel gives you the perfect excuse to finally address these problem areas.
Identify and zone in on the problem areas of your home
Start room by room. Be ruthless about what you actually need versus what’s just taking up space. Items you haven’t used in over a year probably don’t deserve a spot in your home. Donate what’s still useful. Recycle what isn’t. Toss the rest.
This process serves multiple purposes. First, it makes your home easier to manage for anyone looking after it while you’re gone. House sitters appreciate clean, organized spaces where they can find what they need without digging through piles of stuff.
Declutter your home with purpose
Second, decluttering reduces stress. Knowing your home is in order while you’re thousands of miles away brings genuine peace of mind. You won’t spend your vacation worrying about that leaky box in the attic or the mystery smell in the spare bedroom.
Third, organized spaces are safer. Fewer items mean fewer tripping hazards, less fire risk from cluttered electrical outlets, and better overall accessibility throughout your home.
When Reorganizing Becomes Relocating
Sometimes preparing for extended travel involves more than just tidying up. Maybe you’re downsizing before a long trip. Perhaps you’re moving some belongings into storage. Or you might be transitioning between homes entirely while planning to travel during the gap.
These situations require professional help. Moving heavy furniture, packing fragile items, and transporting belongings safely isn’t something most people should tackle alone.
When you need a trusted professional…
Professional removal services handle the heavy lifting, literally. They bring the right equipment, the proper vehicles, and the expertise to get your belongings from point A to point B without damage.
If you’re curious about what professional movers actually do and how they operate, reading about bbcremovals gives you solid insight into how reputable companies approach the job. Understanding their process helps you know what to expect and how to prepare.
When choosing a removal service, look for companies with clear communication, transparent pricing, and positive customer reviews. Ask about insurance coverage for your belongings. Inquire about their packing services if you need that additional help.
The goal is finding a team you trust with your possessions. Moving is stressful enough without worrying whether your grandmother’s antique dresser will survive the journey.
Photo Credit – Lamia Walker
Setting Up Your Home for House Sitters
Bringing in house sitters is a fantastic solution for when you prepare a home before extended travel. They provide security through occupancy, care for your property, and often look after pets or gardens too. But to get the best experience, you need to set them up for success.
Equip the sitters with the information they need to run the home
Start with a comprehensive home manual. This doesn’t need to be a novel, but it should cover the essentials. Include information about how your heating and cooling systems work. Explain any quirks your home has, like that one window that sticks or the bathroom door that needs a firm push.
Brief the sitters
At HouseSit Match we provide a document called the ‘Easy Sit Guidelines‘ which is a briefing template to help you prepare your sitters. List important contacts: your preferred plumber, electrician, and handyman. Include your insurance information and the location of your main water shutoff valve. These details seem trivial until something goes wrong.
Buy supply essentials to prepare a home before extended travel
Stock your home with the basic essentials to run a home. Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, basic pantry items. You don’t need to fill the refrigerator, but making sure house sitters don’t arrive at an empty home shows consideration and helps them settle in quickly.
Security deserves special attention. Walk your sitters through your alarm system if you have one. Show them how to lock up properly. Explain your preferences about visitors, packages, and mail handling.
Establish clear communication expectations. How often should they update you? What warrants an immediate call versus a simple text? Setting these boundaries upfront prevents misunderstandings later.
Caring for Your Garden and Plants
For many homeowners, the garden represents months or years of careful cultivation. Leaving it unattended for extended periods can undo all that hard work in surprisingly little time.
If you have house sitters, detailed plant care instructions are essential. Not everyone has a green thumb, and even plant lovers can struggle with unfamiliar species. Write down watering schedules for each area. Note which plants need direct sunlight versus shade. Identify any seasonal tasks that might fall during your absence.
Consider simplifying your garden before departure. Remove plants that require constant attention. Consolidate containers to make watering more efficient. Install drip irrigation systems or automatic watering timers to reduce the burden on whoever’s looking after things.
For indoor plants, the same principles apply. Group plants with similar needs together. Move sun lovers to appropriate windows. Relocate delicate specimens away from drafty areas or heating vents.
Here’s something many travelers don’t consider: your time away might be the perfect opportunity to add new plants. Returning home to a refreshed garden or a new indoor plant collection creates a wonderful homecoming.
Ordering from an online plant nursery in Australia before your return means new additions can arrive and be settled in by your house sitters. You come home to established plants rather than dealing with the stress of new arrivals while unpacking from your trip.
Just coordinate with your sitters beforehand. Make sure they’re comfortable receiving and caring for new plants. Provide specific instructions for any deliveries expected during your absence.
Photo Credit – Lamia Walker
Managing Utilities and Subscriptions
Extended travel means rethinking your regular expenses. Why pay full utility rates for an empty house? Why receive newspapers nobody will read?
Start with subscription services. Pause or cancel anything you won’t use. Streaming services, meal kit deliveries, magazine subscriptions, gym memberships. Most allow temporary holds that save money without losing your account history.
Newspapers and mail require attention. Pile up mail signals an empty house to potential burglars. Set up mail forwarding or ask a trusted neighbor to collect it regularly. Better yet, if you have house sitters, they’ll naturally bring in the mail as part of their daily routine.
Utilities need adjustment but not elimination. Keep water connected to prevent pipe issues. Maintain minimal heating or cooling to protect your home’s interior. But adjust thermostats significantly since nobody’s there to enjoy perfect temperatures.
Consider your internet and cable situation. House sitters typically appreciate having these services available. It’s a small cost that significantly improves their experience, which in turn improves the care they provide your home.
Insurance deserves a phone call before extended travel. Inform your provider about your absence and the presence of house sitters. Some policies have specific clauses about extended vacancies. Others offer reduced rates when someone occupies the property. Either way, you want your coverage to reflect your actual situation.
Security Measures Beyond Locking Doors
Basic locks aren’t enough for extended absences. Fortunately, modern technology offers numerous ways to monitor and protect your home from anywhere in the world.
Smart doorbells let you see who’s at your door in real time. Motion sensors alert you to unexpected activity. Security cameras provide visual confirmation that everything’s fine, or early warning if it isn’t.
Timers for lights create the illusion of occupancy even without house sitters. Smart plugs let you control lamps and electronics remotely. Program lights follow natural patterns rather than staying on 24/7, which looks more realistic and saves energy.
Don’t advertise your absence on social media. That exciting countdown to your trip tells potential burglars exactly when your home will be empty. Save the vacation photos for after you return, or at least limit your audience to trusted friends through privacy settings.
Alert your neighbors about your travel plans and who should be accessing your property. They become an extra set of eyes, noticing if something seems off. Provide contact information in case they need to reach you about your home.
Photo Credit – Lamia Walker
Financial Preparations for Peace of Mind
Money matters don’t stop just because you’re traveling. Bills still come due. Mortgages still need payment. Property taxes still accumulate.
Set up automatic payments for essential recurring expenses. Mortgage, utilities, insurance premiums, property taxes. Missing these while traveling creates headaches that compound quickly. Late fees, service interruptions, and credit score impacts all become possibilities.
Notify your bank and credit card companies about your travel dates. Without this heads up, international transactions might trigger fraud alerts that freeze your accounts at the worst possible moment. A quick call prevents unnecessary complications.
Consider your emergency fund. Extended travel should include a financial cushion for unexpected home repairs. Your house sitters might discover a leak or an appliance failure. Having accessible funds for these situations means problems get solved immediately rather than waiting for your return.
Review your home insurance policy one more time. Understand exactly what’s covered and what isn’t. Know the claims process in case something happens. Keep digital copies of important documents accessible from anywhere.
Creating the Ultimate Home Information Package
Everything we’ve discussed should come together in one comprehensive package for whoever’s looking after your home. This isn’t just helpful; it’s essential for a smooth experience.
Include all instruction manuals for appliances and systems. House sitters shouldn’t need to guess how your dishwasher works or figure out the oven’s quirks through trial and error.
Compile a contact list: your information, neighbors, emergency services, preferred service providers, veterinarians if you have pets, and any other relevant contacts.
Write out weekly maintenance tasks. Garbage collection days. Recycling schedules. Garden watering routines. Cleaning expectations. The more clarity you provide, the better care your home receives.
Add fun recommendations too. Favorite local restaurants. Great walking routes. Hidden gems in the neighborhood. This transforms your information package from a chore list into a welcome guide that helps house sitters enjoy their stay.
Leave copies of important documents: insurance policies, warranty information, recent utility bills showing typical usage. These prove invaluable if questions arise.
Photo Credit – Lamia Walker
How to Prepare a Home Before Extended Travel in Conclusion
When you prepare a home for extended travel it takes some organisation and effort. There’s no getting around it. But that investment pays dividends throughout your time away.
You’ll travel lighter knowing your property is protected. You’ll relax more deeply knowing house sitters have everything they need. You’ll return to a home that’s been cared for rather than neglected.
Start your preparations early. Don’t leave everything for the week before departure. Give yourself time to declutter properly, arrange any necessary moving or storage, set up plant care systems, and create thorough documentation.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s preparation. A well prepared home and well informed house sitters create a combination that lets everyone thrive. You enjoy your travels. They enjoy their stay. Your home receives the attention it deserves.
That’s the best way to prepare a home before extended travel, and the foundation for a successful extended trip. Everything else is just details.
To find your long-term housesitters through our trusted network register with HouseSitMatch as a homeowner
To register as a Homeowner follow this link
If you have pet care and homecare experience and want to travel and experience a new location why not register as on HouseSitMatch as a housesitter
To register as a House-sitter or Petsitter follow this link
Further reading about housesitters
At Housesit Match we like to share useful blogs and practical advice about housesitters, housesitting and pet sitting. We hope you find this small selection of our blogs on house sitters useful.
Housesitters keep pets safe at home and save money
What a housesitter does – Top 10 responsibilities
