Jobs around the house before 6 weeks overseas

[tgh]

Along with all the other good advice already posted ,I set up a series of light timers in the bedroom , family room and office so that the house looks lived in.
Really important point to turn off the water hoses to the dishwasher , washing machine and the frig if you have a water chiller.

 

[Warks]

Turn off the wi-fi. Can't turn off the modem as the calls come through it.

 

[cmon0005]

Turn off the wi-fi.

Just curious, what's the purpose of this one?

 

[clazman]

Can also add
- Put dog / cat in the kennel
- tell the wife you are going on holiday and you wont need dinner

 

[RooFlyer]

Just curious, what's the purpose of this one?

I turn off my wi-fi. I put it in the category as easy to do, and no need for it to be on while I'm away. I also turn off all electricals that its easy to do (TVs & related, monitors, PC etc)

 

[vetrade]

I email our itinerary to our sons with hotels we'll be staying at etc. If they need to contact us I figure it's better that they have a location as well as mobile and email contacts.

A little OT but this thread reminded me I was going to set up cameras which I could monitor online in real time from OS before our next trip.
Would be interested in others' experiences - particularly problems they have encountered and/or overcome.

 

[Alanslegal]

We don't have a checklist of things to do around the house. We always get family or friend to apartment-sit for us. Our bills should come via email and have direct debits setup up, so the only mail I usually get are pizza coupons and buy off the plan apartment brochures.

 

[straitman]

Two more that we do for extended absences.
1. Fill in a Police form so they are aware and hopefully will check the place occasionally. (They say they will)
2. Advise our health insurance provider who will then suspend payments. (With Defence Health can only be done one per year and you must be OS more than a month). On our last trip it saved approx $750.

 

[cmon0005]

Not sure if it has been mentioned yet but Smart Traveler registration!

 

[Warks]

Just curious, what's the purpose of this one?

I guess if it's not on, no one can freeload on it (even though it's password protected you never know).

 

[amaroo]

Ensure sufficent chorline/acid reserves for the pool
Drop dogs at Kennel
Pay the mower man

For those turning their HWS down/off .... ensure you boil that kettle real good before having a shower/bath Legionnaires

 

[cmon0005]

For those turning their HWS down/off .... ensure you boil that kettle real good before having a shower/bath Legionnaires

Wow, never knew that before! I always leave mine on anyway, I have a solar hot water system with Gas booster, so energy costs are minimum anyway when I am away.

 

[Major]

We couldn't possibly turn off TV or suspend Foxtel as we have several shows on series record.

 

[drron]

I just leave it all for Mrs Buzzard to organise

Definitely my plan as well!
But being away a lot we have-no lawn
-no newspapers
-all mail always to PO box.
-most bills now delivered online.So just the b****y BAS to try and remember!
-only pets are the wildlife.Birds,blue tongue and water monitor.

 

[JohnK]

Easiest solution is not to live in a house.

Especially if you suffer from OCD.

 

[tgh]

quite the opposite of the good dr.. a large chunk of every trip budget is costed as animal management
dogs to the doggery
cat to the cattery
carer twice a day for the nags..
the acre or so of lawn can be heard cheering as I leave along with a loud sigh from the lawnmower.

 

[sinophile888]

When we went on a long cruise a few years, it would have been cheaper to abandon the dog and buy another one when we returned. But my daughter didn't think much of my plan. So we paid over $800 to have the dog minded.

 

[RB]

Two more that we do for extended absences.
1. Fill in a Police form so they are aware and hopefully will check the place occasionally. (They say they will)
2. Advise our health insurance provider who will then suspend payments. (With Defence Health can only be done one per year and you must be OS more than a month). On our last trip it saved approx $750.

I have just done a quick google search & nothing showed up but I seem to recall a similar discussion several years ago & there was a bit of a "gotcha" with suspending private health cover?

 

[Hvr]

When we went on a long cruise a few years, it would have been cheaper to abandon the dog and buy another one when we returned. But my daughter didn't think much of my plan. So we paid over $800 to have the dog minded.

For my current trip I have paid (in advance) about $1,000 to board my cat. She is in the presidential suite and will have daily cuddles/play times.

Have secured the same room for my next two trips.

When planning a trip I ring the cattery and see if the proposed dates are available, put in rough booking for the approximate dates and then book the air fare. Once tickets are issued I tell the cattery the exact dates. Suits us all.

 

[tgh]

We have similar priorities, until all the animal structures are a go.. no tikits are booked.
The cat only goes to one place.