Leaving the House (Extended Time) Checklist

Leaving the House Checklist, v12

[ ] Plants and Animals, 
[ ]   Make Arrangement Before Trip:        
[ ]   Food & Water Care, Setup & Do               
[ ]   Clean Up                                   
[ ] Intrusion Alert:                                       
[ ]   Devices / Alarm(s) Set                     
[ ]   Mail Stop, Neighbor Pickup                
[ ]   News Paper Stop, Neighbor Pickup,          
[ ]   Trash / Waste Arrangements                 
[ ]   Notify: Neighbor, Family, Police, Local Authorities, 
      Security Monitor Agency 
[ ] Utility / Appliance Settings:
[ ]   Temperature Settings as Desired - hot water heater, 
      house water boiler, house thermostat(s)
[ ]   Electrical Appliances Off / Unplugged      
[ ]   Coffee Pot Off / Unplugged                 
[ ]   Water, as desired      
[ ]   Arrange or Pre-Arrange Monthly or Cycle Billing Payments: 
      Pre Pay or Over Pay Utility bill if you are going to be away 
      over a billing cycle; or, make arrangements for someone to do
      this task for you
[ ]   Activate any home/cell/mobile phone travel plans or features
[ ] Inspect:                                               
[ ]   House Closed/Locked                       
[ ]     Windows (closed, locked, as desired), Doors (locked, bolted),
        wood slide stops in place
[ ]     Answer Machine Set as Desired / Unplugged  
[ ]     Email, Out of Office Auto Reply turned on (work/home)
[ ]     Computers shut down/off/unplugged/UPS off/as desired
[ ]   House Exterior, Check
[ ]     Ornaments, as desired
[ ]     Hoses, wrapped/stored/set as desired
[ ]     Water, off/timer(s) set
[ ]     Grill/Equipment secured
[ ]     Gates closed/as desired
[ ]   Vehicles:
[ ]     Non Travel Vehicle: Locked, Garage Door Openers 
          removed from outdoor vehicles, valuables out of site  
[ ]     Travel/Airport Vehicle: Toll Change or Electronic Toll Device 
          on Dashboard (if not mounted), no valuables left in site
[ ]     Fuel topped off
[ ] Valuables Stored Safely: 
[ ]   Travel Wallet/Purse set up, Regular Wallet/Purse stowed                       
[ ]   Jewelry, Art                               
[ ]   Guns, Weapons                              
[ ]   Check Books (maybe validate check quantity/number)    
[ ]   Safe(s), valuables stored/re-stored, safe closed and locked
[ ]
Last Minute Checklist

Last Minute Things

These Item(s) May Be Checked Off Already
But may be needed while everything else is packed.
Learn to use common assembly areas, like:
  1. Refrigerator Shelf, Placed up-front in a To-Go Bag (Travel Food, Medications, ...)
  2. By the Door, in a Box/Bag or a Stock Pile (Clothing, Pillow, Shaver, ...)
  3. On a Table/Bench Corner, Gathered Together (Travel ID, Personal, Wallet, ...)
[ ] Wallet, Checkbook
[ ] Pillows (sleeping and throw)                     
[ ] Medications (keep easy to find while traveling),
[ ]   Remember to Take scheduled Meds
[ ] Coats, Jackets, Rain Coats                            
[ ] Shaver, Shaving or Traveling Kit, Electric Cords     
[ ] Toothbrush, Toothpaste
[ ] Comb, Brush 
[ ] Travel / Alarm Clock  
[ ] Jewelry  
[ ] Exercise Outfit/Regelia
[ ] Electrical Converters (voltage &/or plug)             
[ ] Travel Meal &/or Snacks 
[ ] Books / Reading Materials (Business, Travel, Language, Pleasure)
[ ] Hair Dryer                                                
[ ] Beverage, Coffee, Creamer, Mug(s)
[ ] Hand Lotion
[ ] 
[ ]
[ ]

The Physical Departure

[ ] Visually insure that the garage door closes and stays closed
    Issue: Sometimes something like a toy or even snow can keep a 
            garage door from closing completely and newer garage 
            doors will automatically reverse direction.
    Issue: Many of us change from our normal routines for vacation
            or travel trip departures. One such change is facing the
            travel vehicle in a driveway away from the residence
            for easy loading purposes - Remember to actually
            close the garage doors in the excitement of departure.
[ ] Issue: Some government frequencies and combinations can 
            disrupt some garage door controls.
    Issue - Garage Door Security: There are many ways, from unplugging  
            the opener, locking with a key, to actually placing locked vice 
            grips on the rail next to a door wheel.
[ ] Property Gates as desired
[ ]

Caution: Items Most Often Forgotten or Lost While Traveling

In most cases they are left in wash rooms or toilet rooms;
Train yourself to double check every shower/bath/toilet/
change-room facility before departing!
  • Watch, Jewlry, Ring in Wash Room (Learn to always put these items into your pant pocket, toiletry bag, bra, or shoe)
  • Soap, Soap Dish
  • Plug Converters
  • Wallet, Checkbook (falls out of pants onto floor)
  • Passport (works its way out of pocket, while repositioning for sleep on long flights)
  • Always have photocopies of your passport main page (one in each piece of luggage, including carryon)