Prepare Your Home for Vacation: Ultimate Checklist for Solo Travelers

Leaving home for a solo trip feels liberating—no schedules to negotiate, no competing preferences, and no compromises. But before you start your adventure, one of the most important things you can do is prepare your home. A properly secured and thoughtfully arranged home gives you peace of mind while you’re away and ensures a welcoming return.

This guide helps you streamline every step, from securing your home to reducing expenses to preparing for your arrival back home. Whether you’re traveling for a weekend or several months, this ultimate checklist ensures you leave confidently and return effortlessly.

Tips for the Safety and Security of Your Home

Keeping your home secure is the top priority when you’re traveling solo. Without someone regularly coming and going, your home may appear unoccupied—a tempting sign for break-ins. Use the following strategies to safeguard your space.

1. Make Your Home Look Occupied

An empty home is vulnerable. These simple adjustments help deter opportunistic intruders:

• Use smart lights or timers: Set lamps to turn on and off at realistic intervals. Smart bulbs give you full control remotely.
• Suspend newspaper deliveries: If you subscribe to local print newspapers, pause them until your return.
• Ask a neighbour to take your mail: Even if you have a locked box, a packed mailbox signals vacancy.
• Leave curtains slightly ajar: Fully closed curtains during the day raise suspicion. Find a natural middle ground.

2. Strengthen Your Home’s Physical Security

Good physical security goes a long way—especially for solo travelers who may be away longer than usual.

• Double-check all locks: Doors, windows, patio doors, garage doors, basement entrances.
• Install window and door sensors: A simple DIY alarm system can notify you of unexpected activity.
• Use deadbolts and door bars: These add resistance against forced entry.
• Secure sliding doors: Place a dowel or bar in the track. For added protection, install a foot lock.
• Consider upgrading your lock: A high-quality smart lock or ANSI Grade 1 deadbolt provides additional peace of mind.

3. Use Cameras and Monitoring

Modern home security systems are affordable and can be DIY-installed.

• Smart cameras with motion alerts let you check in while on the road.
• A video doorbell allows you to answer knocks or deliveries remotely.
• Cloud-connected monitoring ensures footage is accessible even if someone tampers with the device.

When traveling solo, this remote visibility helps you monitor your home without depending on others.

4. Avoid Advertising Your Absence

As tempting as it is to share your trip online, timing is everything.

• Never post real-time travel updates on public accounts.
• Share photos after you return or post only to close-friends lists.
• Disable geotagging on social media apps.

These steps reduce the risk of someone intentionally tracking your absence.

5. Protect Your Valuables

If the worst happens, minimize what could be lost.

• Lock valuables in a fireproof safe (passports, jewelry, external drives, banking documents).
• Back up important files to cloud storage or an encrypted external drive.
• Store high-value items out of sight from windows.
• Take photos or videos of important belongings for insurance.

6. Prepare Your Home for Emergencies

Unexpected events—storms, freezing temperatures, leaks—can occur while you’re traveling.

• Check smoke and CO detectors.
• Ensure sump pumps and water alarms work.
• Clear gutters if rain or snow is expected.
• Shut off the water supply if away for more than 2–3 weeks to prevent burst pipes.
• Unplug electronics to avoid electrical fires.

These steps protect not just your belongings, but the structure of your home itself.

7. Let Someone You Trust Know Your Plan

Even as a solo traveler, having one designated contact is essential.

Share with them:

• Travel dates
• Destination(s)
• Contact methods
• Home address
• Any house-specific details (e.g., “The guest room window sticks but locks fine”)

Ask them to check in periodically—digitally or with a brief drive-by.

Money-Saving Tips

Preparing your home before vacation isn’t only about security—it's also an opportunity to save money. Many solo travelers budget tightly, and unused utilities at home add unnecessary cost. Implementing these easy strategies can reduce bills while you're away.

1. Adjust Your Thermostat

Heating and cooling account for a large percentage of household expenses.

• Winter: Set the thermostat to 15–17°C (59–63°F). If you shut the heat off completely, pipes may freeze.
• Summer: Set your AC to about 27–29°C (80–84°F) or turn it off if humidity isn't a risk.
• Smart thermostats allow fine-tuning from your phone.

2. Turn Off or Lower Your Water Heater

Hot water heaters are energy-hungry.

• Switch the heater to “vacation mode” if available.
• For tankless heaters, turn off the power source entirely.

3. Unplug Small Appliances

Even when off, appliances consume standby electricity.

Before leaving, unplug:

• TVs
• Game consoles
• Computers
• Coffee makers and microwaves
• Chargers (phone, toothbrush, shaver)
• Kitchen gadgets

This reduces phantom energy burn and lowers the risk of electrical fire.

4. Reduce Your Internet and Cable Bills

If you're taking an extended solo trip (one to six months), consider:

• Suspending cable or streaming services you won’t use.
• Downgrading your internet speed tier temporarily.
• Pausing newspaper subscriptions or mail-order plans.

Most service providers allow short-term holds without penalty.

5. Prepare Your Fridge and Pantry

Food waste is money waste. Emptying and cleaning your fridge before a trip has multiple benefits:

• Eat perishable items in the days before departure.
• Freeze items you want to keep.
• Remove foods that will expire while you’re gone.
• Wipe down shelves to prevent odors.

If you’ll be away for more than a month:

• Consider emptying and unplugging the fridge entirely (just leave the door cracked open to prevent mold).

6. Manage Utilities Strategically

Some additional areas to reduce waste:

• Turn off the water supply to outdoor taps, especially before winter.
• Lower blinds or curtains to reduce heat gain and loss.
• Turn off ceiling fans.
• Deactivate heated floors or towel warmers.

Every small adjustment contributes to noticeable savings during long trips.

7. Pause Deliveries and Subscriptions

This saves money and increases security.

• Suspend meal kits, snack boxes, pet food deliveries, or any auto-subscription.
• Skip grocery deliveries the week before traveling.

This ensures nothing sits outside your door or spoils before you return.

8. Consider Insurance Adjustments

If you take long trips often:

• Ask your insurance provider about vacation hold discounts.
• Some offer reduced premiums if the home is left unoccupied with security monitoring.
• If storing a vehicle, inquire about parked-car insurance or reduced-use coverage.

The savings may be significant over repeated trips.

Prepare Your Home for Your Return from Vacation

Few things feel better than returning home after a solo trip—unless you walk into a messy, cold, or inconvenient environment. Preparing your home for your return ensures your first few hours back are stress-free.

1. Leave Your Home Clean and Organized

Coming home to a clean home is one of the best “gifts” you can give yourself.

• Clean the kitchen completely: wash dishes, wipe down counters, take out the garbage.
• Vacuum or sweep floors.
• Wash linens and towels so you return to a fresh bed.
• Clear fridge or store remaining items properly.
• Clean your bathroom—no one wants to return to stale moisture or lingering odors.

A clean home makes the post-travel transition smooth and uplifting.

2. Arrange for a Comfortable First Night Back

Solo travelers often return home late or exhausted.

Prepare ahead:

• Put fresh sheets on your bed.
• Leave a cozy blanket or pillow out.
• Set aside comfortable loungewear so it's waiting for you.
• Prepare a “first night kit” with toiletries, chargers, medications, and pajamas.

3. Stock Some Shelf-Stable Food

After a long flight or road trip, the last thing you want is to run out to the grocery store.

Before you leave:

• Restock pantry items like pasta, rice, soup, nuts, or granola bars.
• Freeze a pre-made meal for easy reheating.
• Ensure coffee, tea, or breakfast basics are available.

This guarantees a soothing first morning back.

4. Set Up Your Home Environment

Small touches make your return more enjoyable.

• Set your thermostat to resume normal temperature a few hours before you return (smart thermostat required).
• Leave curtains partially open so natural light brightens the space.
• Place a few air fresheners or a clean candle in the living space.
• Water plants to ensure they stay healthy.

5. Arrange Pet and Plant Care in Advance

If you have pets or plants:

• Confirm pet-sitter or boarding details.
• Ask a neighbour or friend to water plants.
• Give detailed instructions and an emergency contact method.

This prevents last-minute chaos or living things suffering in your absence.

6. Pay Bills and Handle Administrative Tasks Before Leaving

Financial or bureaucratic surprises are the last thing you need when you’re jet-lagged.

Make sure to:

• Pay rent and utilities in advance.
• Schedule automatic payments where possible.
• Renew any necessary documents (transit passes, memberships, licenses).

This protects against late fees or service interruptions.

7. Plan Your Post-Travel Schedule Wisely

The return home from solo travel is often overlooked.

Consider:

• Do you need a “buffer day” before work?
• Are you arriving at night?
• Will you be exhausted after long-haul travel?

Scheduling a day or half-day to recover helps prevent burnout and makes the transition smoother.

8. Make Notes for Your Future Self

A few reminders go a long way.

Before leaving:

• Leave a note about what you cleaned, what’s in the freezer, or where you stored things.
• Write down any maintenance tasks to do after returning (e.g., book furnace service, fix faucet leak).
• Put a reminder about important upcoming dates or deadlines.

Your future self will thank you.

Conclusion

Preparing your home before a solo trip is more than a checklist—it’s a travel ritual that sets the tone for your entire journey. A secure and well-organized home gives you peace of mind while exploring the world, and a welcoming environment makes your return comforting instead of chaotic.

From safety precautions to smart money-saving tactics to thoughtful “welcome home” touches, these steps ensure your solo adventure starts and ends smoothly. With this ultimate checklist, you can head out confidently, knowing your home is just as ready for your vacation as you are.