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Prepare Your Home for Summer Vacation

June 3, 2022

When the summer months are in sight, it’s no surprise when our minds tend to drift away, dreaming about our next great adventure. Before we get too lost in our thoughts about vacation planning and packing, though, it’s important to make sure that our homes are prepared to be on their own while we’re away. At Norfolk Homes, our team is just as excited for summer as you are, so we’ve put together the ultimate home checklist to ensure that your home will be one thing you won’t have to worry about on your next getaway. 

Clean out the fridge

If there’s one step you definitely won’t want to forget before you head out the door on your next vacation, that would be cleaning out your fridge. Fresh produce is typically good for just a few days after you purchase it, and dairy products more than likely have a short shelf life as well. Once you’ve finished going through all of your refrigerated goods, this can be a great time to stop by the local food pantry to drop off any items before you leave. 

Don’t forget about the houseplants

Having a few house plants throughout your home is always a great way to bring some natural elements into your home interior design, but it also means that when you leave your home for a long period of time, you’ll have to find a way to make sure they will get plenty of water and sunlight while you’re away. If you have a family member, close friend or neighbor you could call who would be able to check in on your plants and water them as necessary, this might be your best bet. There are also a number of self-watering products on the market today that could be perfect for this. 

Unplug your small appliances

Smaller appliances throughout your home such as toasters, coffee makers or blenders can still be drawing some electricity when they’re plugged in, even if they aren’t in use. To ensure that you’re saving as much energy as possible when you’re away, it’s best to unplug these items before you leave, and it’s never a bad idea to walk through the rest of your home and see what else could be unplugged as well, such as any televisions or computers you might have.

Trust in your smart technology

At Norfolk Homes, the smart home technology we have included in each of our new construction home builds allows all of our homeowners to feel an immense sense of relief during their everyday lives as well as when they leave for vacation. With a number of features able to be accessed with ease from your smartphone, you’ll be able to double check ensure that the garage door is closed, update the settings on your thermostat and home lighting for optimal energy savings while you’re gone and even take a look at the doorbell camera to ensure that all is well, no matter what. 

Keep your Norfolk Home safe

At Norfolk Homes, our team knows how important it is for you to know that your home is safe even when you're away, and when you follow this checklist, you can rest assured that your home will be taken care of no matter what. If this is the summer you're ready to find your dream home, take a look through all of the communities we build in across the Greater Ann Arbor area, and fill out our online form today for more information. 

We moved back to the area and after touring several new home communities we purchased a quick move-in home from Norfolk Homes in Arlington Woods. We immediately felt at home here. Arlington Woods is very peaceful and serene, and we’ve loved getting to know our neighbors. We highly recommend this builder!

Tom and Melissa