21 Things You Must Do Before Leaving for International Travel

12. Prepare Your Home for Extended Absence

Properly securing and preparing your home before international travel protects your property and provides peace of mind throughout your journey. Arrange for mail and package delivery suspension or forwarding to prevent accumulation that signals your absence to potential burglars. Contact your postal service well in advance, as some services require several days' notice for mail holds. Ask trusted neighbors, friends, or family members to periodically check on your property, collect any missed deliveries, and maintain a lived-in appearance by varying light patterns and occasionally moving vehicles. Set up automatic timers for interior and exterior lights to create the illusion of occupancy, varying the timing to appear natural rather than mechanical. Ensure your home security system is functioning properly and that monitoring services have current contact information for you and emergency contacts. Clean out your refrigerator and dispose of perishable items that will spoil during your absence, as returning to rotting food creates an unpleasant homecoming experience. Adjust your thermostat to save energy while maintaining appropriate temperatures to prevent issues like frozen pipes or excessive humidity. Arrange for lawn care, plant watering, and other maintenance tasks that can't be neglected during your absence. Inform trusted neighbors about your travel dates and provide them with contact information in case of emergencies. Consider temporarily suspending or reducing services like housekeeping, lawn care, or regular deliveries that won't be needed while you're away