I'm part of our neighborhood's newsletter team and for the next one they asked me to write about what you should do to your house before going on Christmas vacation. Thoughts so far are:

1. find someone trustworthy to walk through house every 1-2 days.

2. Set lights on timers, but not so they all come on/turn off at the same time.

3. have some collect your mail or stop mail delievery

4. have someone collect newspapers/random junk tossed into yard or stop newspaper delievery

5. Turn off power to appliances (tv/computer/washer/etc...

6. Turn off water to washing machine and also fridge if you can reach it. (hoses only break while on vacation :()

7. Set ac/furnace to minimum levels needed.

8. have someone water your lawn if needed (I'm in Texas).

9. Alert local police that you'll be gone.

Any other thoughts?

-Blast