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When your home is alone

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Be sure someone puts out your trash on the appointed day.

Clear any incoming messages from your answering machine so you don’t run out of storage space.

And for heaven sake, double-check every door and window before you leave the house (It’s easy to leave in a rush).

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One other thing to consider: Whenever you park your car in a parking lot, be sure to remove the garage door opener from plain view. Many burglaries have resulted from people stealing garage door openers and using them to get into the house.

It’s also a good idea to tell police and dependable neighbors when you plan to be away, and to join with your neighbors to keep a close watch on what’s happening in your area. Working closely with them is a good way to prevent crime whether you are home or away.

Damage control
Theft isn’t the only worry when your home is alone. In fact, accidents can be worse. Most people worry about fire, and they take all the necessary precautions. But water can do just as much damage. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute reports billions of dollars in insured losses last winter due to burst pipes, frozen gutters, leaking toilets and other water disasters.

I can believe it. I recently had a leaky valve in an upstairs toilet that required the attention of an insurance adjuster. The adjuster told me that I was lucky to have been home for the leak. He went on to tell me the horrifying tale of a family that went on vacation for three weeks, only to come home to a flooded house. A seal in an upstairs toilet had broken, causing water to pour into the house for several weeks. The damage was substantial — well over a quarter of a million dollars.

Could the accident have been prevented? Yes. Just turn off the water coming into the home before you leave on any extended trip. If turning off the water to your entire house isn’t possible, shut off the water to the toilets and washing machine — the two biggest culprits for inside flood damage.

Another thing to consider: If you live where it’s cold, keep the heat on so the pipes don’t freeze. If they do, they’re liable to crack or burst. The recommended temperature setting is at least 65 degrees because temperatures inside walls (where the pipes are located) are substantially lower than inside the house, especially if the pipes are located in an outside wall.

So be careful when you leave your home alone. Think ahead. Take precautions. Treat it well. That way when you return from a long, wonderful trip, you won’t be met by two cops and a plumber.

Anita Dunham-Potter is a Pittsburgh-based travel journalist specializing in cruise travel. Anita's columns have appeared in major newspapers and many Internet outlets, and she is a contributor to Fodor's "Complete Guide to Caribbean Cruises 2006." E-mail Anita or visit her Web site anitavacation.com.


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