Prepping Your House for Breaks/Vacations
When leaving your residence for vacations or breaks, it is important to keep your home
protected while you are gone.
Follow this simple checklist to prepare to be out of town over break.
Have a neighbor keep an eye on your home.
Close all blinds and curtains of your house so no one, including burglars, can see
into your home.
Use lamp timers to turn on and off at night so it looks as if someone is home. This
may help prevent burglaries.
Turn off water such as the water supply to the washer, ice-maker, dishwasher
and toilets.
Unplug blenders, toasters, coffee machines, computers, etc.
Remove food from refrigerator and pantry that will become spoiled.
Be sure all laundry is removed from washer to prevent mildew.
Leave your sink clean of dirty dishes as well as your dishwasher.
Water any plants or plan on having someone to water and take care of them.
Be sure to remove any garbage that is left around the house. Call the City of Norfolk
for a bulk waste collection at 757-664-6510.
Put your mail and newspaper services on hold so that mail and newspapers do not
pile up. Piled up mail and newspapers represents that no one is home and can lead
to burglaries.
Be sure to lock all doors and windows before leaving.
Park any vehicles in a garage, if this is an available option, to avoid car burglaries.
29 | Off-Campus Living Guide