How to Prepare Your Home for Long-term Travel
If you decide that you want to go travelling for a long time, you have to think about what you’re going to do with your home. This might be an easier decision if you own your home, while it’s a little tougher if you’re a tenant. You probably don’t want to leave your home empty for however long you’re gone, but you might also want to be able to return at certain points during your travels.
So what should you do with your home and how do you get it ready before you go travelling? Here are ‘4 Ways To Prepare Your Home for Long-Term Travel’
1 – Decide What to Do with Your Home
First, you need to decide what to do with your home. If you’re a renter, you might simply decide to end your lease and store your things. It can be the easiest route, especially if you can’t sublet and your landlord doesn’t want the property empty. If you own your home, you have more flexibility. You could go through the trouble of selling up, which can fund your travels, and buy a new property on your return home. Or you could rent out your home while you’re gone. If you’d rather not, you can just make sure someone keeps an eye on it for you.
Further Reading: 5 Fab Places For Your Post-Coronavirus Travel Bucket List
2 – Move Your Stuff
Whatever you decide to do, you will often need to move some or all of your things. If you’re moving out, you’ll probably want to store your things while you’re away. If you decide to rent out your home in some capacity, you’ll want to remove some of your personal items to prevent clutter and keep them safe. It’s smart to book movers far ahead of the date when you need them. It will give you more time to compare quotes and find the right company to complete the work for you.
Further Reading: Travel Insurance After Covid-19 – What Will It Look Like
3 – Automate Your Home
Smart home technology is all the rage now, and there are lots of things you can do with it. Installing some smart tech can allow you to automate your home so that you can manage it remotely, no matter where you are in the world. You could install smart lights and set them to go on and off on a schedule so it looks like there’s someone home. A smart security system will allow you to watch over your house when you’re not there. You can watch cameras in your home and get alerts if there’s any movement.
4 – Make House Sitting Arrangements
You might want to make arrangements to have someone care for your house for you. Someone could come and stay to house sit, especially if you have pets or plants that need to be cared for. Or someone could pop in every now and then to collect your post and make sure that there aren’t any problems. You could even consider swapping houses with other people, who could stay in your home while you stay in theirs.
Before you go travelling, think about what you want to do with your home and how to protect it.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”
― Mark Twain
Photos by Andrew Neel – CCO Licence
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