Organization is key when preparing to leave home for a vacation.
“I think about how I want things [to look] when I walk in the door after a long time away,” says Suzanne Miller Farrell, writer, designer, and founder of The Storied House.
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As part of her pre-vacation routine, Miller Farrell creates a detailed list of tasks to complete for the home, family, and life in general in order to ensure her return is comfortable and stress free. Combing through the family calendar, making appointments, whittling down items in the fridge, and sorting laundry are just some of those checklist essentials. Above all, she values an organized house and hires a cleaning team to freshen up the place just before the family’s return.
Emily Murphy, owner of the design firm Emily Hall Interiors, also devises a list of to-do items. Preparing ahead of time allows homeowners to set the mood for their return. Murphy finds ambient lighting to be calming, and likes to leave a few lamps turned on for the duration of her time away from home.
Whether it’s domestic travel—like Murphy’s summer vacation to Michigan—or a visit across the ocean to Ireland—in Miller Farrell’s case—traveling often comes with challenges that aren’t always surmountable alone. Murphy has found solace in reaching out to professionals or friends and family to assist in her absence.
“When I have someone stopping by the house, I love for them to help me do small things like check the mail,” she says. Garden and pool crews regularly maintain Murphy’s outdoor spaces, and she enlists extra help from neighborhood friends to occasionally check-in on her home while she’s away.
When she’s unable to hire a house sitter, Miller Farrell utilizes smart-home technology to reign back some control. From her phone, she can quickly share the code to the keypad lock on her front door with both neighbors or cleaning crews who need to enter the house. This not only gives her some control despite being far away, but it also cuts down on the need to have additional keys cut, preventing them from getting lost or misplaced.
Both women are dog owners and recommend other pet parents stay up to date on vaccinations. Most dog boarding facilities require boosters every six months before they’ll book your pet for a stay with them, regardless of the amount of time your pet will be there. Contacting a preferred pet care company early on in your vacation prep will ensure you get a place for them, in addition to your preferred pick up and drop off dates. In addition, be aware of your child’s school schedule and activities no matter how far or near the first day of school may be.
In other words, ensure a stress-free vacation by thinking ahead and by being methodical about home preparation. Consider areas of your life that need special attention, like the garden, pool, pets, and family members. Don’t forget to call your home alarm company to let them know you’ll be away.
“I always feel better when things around me look good,” says Murphy. “Before I leave town, I try to make sure [my home] is a calming, happy environment when I get back.”
