Things to Arrange at Home Before You Travel
Before every trip there’s the fun part: packing your bag, checking your tickets, and dreaming of what’s ahead. But what about everything you leave behind?
Who makes sure your plants don’t collapse into a green jungle tragedy? What happens to the pile of letters on your doormat? And how nice is it to come home to a clean fridge instead of a science experiment?
This blog isn’t about planning your journey—it’s about preparing your home, your work, and even your neighbours for your absence. Because the secret to a calm and comfortable trip often starts the moment you close your own front door.
How to get your home ready for travel: plants, pets, post, work and safety. Save this checklist before your next trip!
Want to skip ahead? Jump straight to the part you need:
🪴 Plants & Pets
Before a longer trip, it’s smart to arrange who takes care of the things that can’t wait: your plants and your pets.
Plants
Most houseplants survive a week without water, but three weeks is usually too long. A neighbour with a spare key is the easiest option.
For shorter trips, use self-watering spikes, or place pots together on a tray with a layer of water so the soil stays damp.
Outdoor gardens need attention too—dry lawns or dead flowers make a house look empty.
Pets
Dogs and cats need daily care and company. Options include asking a trusted friend, hiring a pet sitter, or arranging a stay at a kennel or cattery.
Smaller pets are easier: fish tanks often have automatic feeders, and small animals like rabbits or hamsters can sometimes be cared for by neighbours with clear instructions.
Always prepare a simple checklist with feeding times, medication, and emergency contacts—this prevents confusion and gives peace of mind.
Travelglaze Tip: Arrange care early, especially in summer holidays when kennels and sitters get fully booked. Booking last minute often means higher prices or fewer reliable options.
📬 Mail & Deliveries
Your mailbox may look small, but three weeks of letters and leaflets can easily make it obvious that nobody’s home. The same goes for online orders—one package on the doorstep for days is an open invitation.
Post
In many countries you can request a hold service at the post office, where all mail is kept until you return.
A neighbour is another option: ask them to collect letters and place them inside.
If you expect official letters, leave a contact number so they can notify you if something urgent arrives.
Deliveries
Pause regular subscriptions such as meal boxes or magazines. Most services allow you to skip a few weeks online.
For parcels, many delivery companies let you change the date or redirect to a pickup point. This avoids boxes piling up in front of your door.
If you receive groceries or fresh deliveries, make sure to stop them—nothing says “welcome home” like a box of spoiled vegetables.
🧡 Travelglaze Tip: Keep a small list of all subscriptions and deliveries you use. Before each trip, quickly check which ones need pausing. It saves last-minute stress and prevents returning to unwanted surprises.
🧹 Home & Housekeeping
Nothing feels better than walking into a fresh house after a long trip. A little preparation saves you from bad smells, extra laundry, or the feeling that you left in a rush.
Cleaning basics
Empty the rubbish bins, especially the kitchen and bathroom ones.
Check the fridge: finish or throw away food that won’t survive your absence. Milk, cheese, and leftovers are the usual suspects.
Run the dishwasher and washing machine before you leave—wet laundry quickly smells musty.
Housekeeping details
Change your bed sheets before departure. Coming home to a clean bed makes the return much more pleasant.
Unplug small appliances (kettle, toaster, chargers). It saves a bit of electricity and lowers the risk of short circuits.
Close curtains halfway or adjust blinds. It prevents direct sunlight from damaging plants or furniture and makes the house look lived in.
🧡 Travelglaze Tip: Plan a short “leaving day routine.” Give yourself 30 minutes on the day you travel to walk through the house with a checklist: bins, fridge, windows, and laundry. It reduces stress and makes the return feel like part of the holiday instead of the end of it.
💻 Work & Admin
Before you leave, it helps to make your work and personal admin “holiday proof.” That way you won’t worry about unfinished tasks while travelling.
Work
Finish important projects and let colleagues know when you’ll be back.
Set an out-of-office reply in your email with clear dates and an alternative contact person.
If you work freelance, inform clients early and avoid last-minute jobs that stretch into your trip.
Personal admin
Pay bills that are due while you’re away.
Double-check travel insurance and health coverage. Many policies require you to arrange this before departure.
Keep digital copies of your passport and tickets stored safely online.
🧡 Travelglaze Tip: Don’t leave these tasks for the night before. Plan a “wrap-up day” two or three days ahead, so your last day at home is calm.
🔒 Safety & Security
A safe home gives peace of mind while you’re away. A few small checks reduce the risk of accidents or unwanted attention.
House safety
Check that all windows and doors are locked.
Adjust your thermostat before you leave. Lowering the heating or turning off the air conditioning saves energy and avoids high bills.
Turn off water taps if possible—especially for washing machines, which can leak while you’re gone.
Security
Use timers for lights to make the house look lived in. Smart plugs or simple mechanical timers both work well.
Ask a trusted neighbour to keep an eye on things. Give them a phone number in case of emergencies.
Avoid posting on social media that your house is empty—share your travel photos after you return.
🧡 Travelglaze Tip: Leave a spare key with someone you trust, not under the doormat. If a storm, leak, or power cut happens, they can step in quickly. It’s a small detail, but it can prevent big problems.
Final Thoughts
Travelling is not only about where you go—it’s also about how you leave. By arranging plants and pets, mail, housekeeping, work, and safety at home, you create a calm start and an even calmer return.
It may feel like small details, but they make a big difference. Coming back to a fresh bed, an empty bin, and healthy plants means your holiday glow lasts longer. And knowing your home is safe while you’re gone lets you enjoy your trip without looking back.
🧡 Travelglaze Tip: To make it easier, I’ve turned all these points into a handy checklist. Want your own copy? Just send me an email, and I’ll share the printable version with you.
👉 Do you have your own rituals before leaving home? Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear your tips and maybe add them to a future list.
