Tips to Consider before you leave for Thanksgiving Break

Is there anything better than being a college student?  IU students get the entire week of Thanksgiving off. My advice: stay in school as long as you can.  Many of you will be leaving your apartment for the entirety of Thanksgiving Break, which means you'll be gone for 8-10 days.  Doesn't seem like much time, but there are a few things you'll want to do to make sure your apartment is safe and properly maintained while you are gone.  A few minutes of effort before you leave can potentially save you thousands of dollars in damage or stolen goods.

1. Keep your heat on - it's unlikely it will get cold enough to freeze your pipes over Thanksgiving Break, but Indiana weather is crazy, and you never know when a cold snap may occur. Before leaving make sure your heat is on and set to at least 55 degrees.


2. Have post office hold your mail - If you will be gone for 8-10 days and you generally receive a lot of mail, you might consider having the post office hold your mail.  Click here to do this online.


3. Leave a light on - Just like Motel 6. If you have a porch light that you control, you might think about leaving that on.  You might also leave a light on in your kitchen or living room.  Someone looking to break in will be looking for an apartment that is obviously unoccupied.  Don't allow your place to look unoccupied.


4. Lock up - Duh, you'll make sure all of your exterior doors are locked, but you might forget to confirm your windows are locked. Consider closing your window blinds as well.


5. Have a friend check-in - If you know someone staying in town, you might ask them to check in on your apartment once or twice.  Maybe have them change the light you have on and pick up any solicitations that are left on your front door.


6. Take out trash and perishables - I promise you that when you get back from break you do not want to be greeted by the smell of 2 week old rotting chicken leg.  Take a minute to empty trash and also throw away any perishables that are expiring soon.


7. Toilet seat up - Men, this is the one and only time you will not get in trouble for leaving the toilet seat up. You probably won't have a problem if you are only gone for a week or so, but we've found that if a toilet lid is down for an extended period of time, mold sometimes begins to grow on the seat. Who wants to clean a moldy seat after a long drive home?


8. Monitor package deliveries - If you ordered an early holiday gift and expect it to be delivered to your apartment while you are way, it might be a good idea to track the package.  If it is delivered to your door, maybe ask your landlord or a friend to keep it or put it in your apartment.


9. Don't be surprised by a few bugs - I am by no means a bug expert or understand why this happens, but when a place is left vacant and undisturbed for an extended period of time, it is very common to see a few spider webs and a few dead bugs lying around.   If you notice this when you come back from break, it does not mean your apartment is infested with bugs or that you need it sprayed immediately.  No matter where you live, bugs find a way in.  Just do a little vacuuming when you get back and things will be back to normal. You can also reduce the chance of bugs by making sure you do not leave out any food or crumbs before you leave.

Follow these simple tips before you leave so the only thing you'll have to worry about this Thanksgiving is how much gravy to put on your turkey.  If you have any other tips, please share them below.