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Holiday Travel Tips for Your Home

The festive holidays are approaching, and calendars are already filling up. Whether you’re staying with family around the country or taking an extended leave to escape the winter, you may be planning to leave your home vacant for more than a day or two. To ward against coming home to the wrong kind of holiday surprise, here’s what to do before you depart.

Cheap Wi-Fi cameras
Security equipment might sound high-tech and expensive, but securing your home against potential intrusion doesn’t cost much. For around $30, you should be able to outfit your home with WIFI cameras which are home assistant compatible.

Shut the main water off
Remember to shut off the main water supply if you plan to be away from your home for more than a day. In the event of a plumbing failure, your home could fall prey to serious water damage.

Install smart water sensors in your basement
Installing a smart water sensor in your basement can easily save a lot of money and worry. Some models will alert you to leaks and shut off the water supply in your home.

Buddy up
If you have a friendly neighbour, check to see if they can accept your mail on your behalf. You could even ask them to peek inside your place if you’re planning an extensive vacation and want some peace of mind.

Make a plan for trash pickup
If you have lots of garbage or recycling that needs collecting (and a pesky rotating trash schedule) ensure you’ve emptied your bins before heading out. This is another time when it helps to befriend your neighbours – and don’t forget to bring them back a souvenir.

Organize snow removal
We’re sure your neighbour wont mind picking up the mail and checking in on your place, but shovelling snow might test your friendship. Save your next-door relationships by signing up for a snow removal service if you plan to go on winter vacation.

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