Tips for leaving the house over the holidays

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In my neighborhood asking USPS to hold mail is as effective as pushing the walk button when you want to cross a street.

HA- same! I both told our guy and marked it online that we would be out of town on my online account. Still got mail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Place a quarter on top of the ice in the freezer. Check it when you return. If the quarter has sunk lower, it means your electricity was off while you were away. One of the best advice on Dcums. We are doing this. We’re visiting Spain now.

the flashing clock on the microwave won't give it away?

If you've got a freezer full of food and debating whether to throw it away, it's helpful to know if the power was out long enough for the water to melt and the quarter to drop, or just for a minute or two. The microwave clock won't tell you that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Place a quarter on top of the ice in the freezer. Check it when you return. If the quarter has sunk lower, it means your electricity was off while you were away. One of the best advice on Dcums. We are doing this. We’re visiting Spain now.

the flashing clock on the microwave won't give it away?

If you've got a freezer full of food and debating whether to throw it away, it's helpful to know if the power was out long enough for the water to melt and the quarter to drop, or just for a minute or two. The microwave clock won't tell you that.

Just astonishing that you live such an isolated life that you would not have a neighbor or anybody else to ask.

Where do you people live? How is that none of you seem to have any connection to the the people in your community?

[Anonymous]

Man, tough crowd. We were all first time home owners at some point. I think it's responsible of OP to ask to make sure they're not forgetting anything. Even if you have relationships with neighbors, lots of people won't be around this week, no one will notice from the outside if a backdoor or window has been compromised, if the basement floods... Our neighbors are wonderful and will let us know if we have a package or something. But they aren't inspecting the house every day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people leave lights on. isn't this an indication that you're not home? When you turn off all the lights every night except when you aren't there?

Many of us don’t. I grew up with my dad putting various lights downstairs on timers throughout the night. We always have left a small light or lamp on in the kitchen or living room all night. Partly habit. I’m not sure if my father was preventing break ins or not wanting it completely dark if someone went downstairs. In my mind, it’s easy security.

We make sure one of our cars in parked in the driveway rather than street or garage if we are away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget Kevin.

Bravo

[Anonymous]

Leave the key to your house with someone you trust, just in case.

[Anonymous]

Take a picture of things you've locked and turned off.

Dh nearly turned the car around afterv30 min on I66 bc he couldn't remember if he closed the garage (we ended up calling a neighbor to check, but still...).

[Anonymous]

Water indoor plants and put plastic bags loosely around them to retain moisture.

[Anonymous]

Put an ice cube in a tupperware container in the freezer. If it's still solid when you come back, that means the power stayed on. If it's flat, the power went out and it melted and refroze.

[Anonymous]

Buy a half gallon or quart of milk and freeze it so you don't have to run to the store immediately when you get back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get why people leave lights on. isn't this an indication that you're not home? When you turn off all the lights every night except when you aren't there?

I have one of those home automation things. My lights go on and off on a schedule. When the sun goes down, the lights come on. Everything is turned off at 11PM except for navigation lights. Those turn off at sunrise.

[Anonymous]

Freezing some milk is a really good idea! That would've been so handy when my kids were little and I came home exhausted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy a half gallon or quart of milk and freeze it so you don't have to run to the store immediately when you get back.

Oh, this is a good suggestion. I always insist that we stop in at the grocery store just before we get home so we can have some basic groceries available once we are home. The family whines about it though. I never thought about buying some milk /bread / lunchmeat to freeze for use as soon as we get home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take a picture of things you've locked and turned off.

Dh nearly turned the car around afterv30 min on I66 bc he couldn't remember if he closed the garage (we ended up calling a neighbor to check, but still...).

Best advice on the thread.