Frequently Asked Questions

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Things to do the day you leave

• Turn your air conditioner up in summer. You want to reduce your bills, but you may have to keep the house from getting too hot to protect your pets and electronics.
• Turn your heat down or off in spring or fall. Be sure to leave the house warm enough in the winter. You may want to reduce your bills, but you may need to keep the house from getting too cold to protect your pets and water pipes.
• Plug a cheap radio into a timer so you can have some noise in the house during part of the day. Lock all doors and windows including basement & garage.
• Unplug electronic items, such as, your computer to protect them if you have a storm while you're gone. Make sure your surge protectors are properly installed.
• Pack the car inside the garage, with the door down, so people driving by won't find out you're leaving.

Things to arrange before you go

• Legal Documents
  Have your affairs at home in order. If you leave a current will, insurance documents, and power of attorney with your family or a friend, you can feel secure about traveling and will be prepared for any emergency that may arise while you are away. If you have minor children, consider making guardianship arrangements for them.
• Credit
  Make a note of the credit limit on each credit card that you bring. Make certain not to charge over that amount on your trip. In some countries, Americans have been arrested for innocently exceeding their credit limit. Ask your credit card company how to report the loss of your card from abroad. 1-800 numbers do not work from abroad, but your company should have a number that you can call while you are overseas.
• Insurance
  Find out if your personal property insurance covers you for loss or theft abroad. More importantly, check on whether your health insurance covers you abroad. Medicare and Medicaid do not provide payment for medical care outside the United States. Even if your health insurance will reimburse you for medical care that you pay for abroad, normal health insurance does not pay for medical evacuation from a remote area or from a country where medical facilities are inadequate. Consider purchasing one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. Also, make sure that the plan you purchase includes medical evacuation in the event of an accident or serious illness.

What should I do to keep my property safe while I'm traveling?

• Make an arrangement with a neighbor, friend or relative to check your home periodically.
• If a friend or neighbor cannot collect your mail, make arrangements for it to be held at the Post Office.
• Arrange for lawn care or snow removal. Ignoring these areas will make your house stand out in the neighborhood and announce to everyone that you are gone.
• Purchase automatic light timers for lights and a radio. Plug a cheap radio into a timer so you can have some noise in the house during part of the day.
• Check your insurance for expiration dates and coverage for your automobile, home and the valuables that you'll take with you, as well as those you'll leave at home.
• Put your valuables and jewelry in a safety deposit box. If you don't have, or can't get access to a safety deposit box, you still want to hinder a hurried burglar by hiding valuable items in your house.
• Notify the local police and security system company to immediately consider any alarm as real. Leave with them the names of anyone responsible to watch over your house.
• Move houseplants away from direct sunlight, water thoroughly and wrap pots with plastic. Most plants can then live without further watering for two weeks.
• Empty the refrigerator of items that might spoil.
• Cancel or hold your newspaper delivery.

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