List to do before you leave on vacation:

• Arrange for lawn care while gone
• Buy tickets or get reservations for excursions
• Check car fluids and tire pressure
• Check road conditions
• Check the weather for your destination and pack accordingly
• Close window shades or blinds
• Gather information and maps for your destination
• Hold your mail and newspaper
• Invest in a timer and leave timer on a lamp
• Lock all windows and doors and garage
• Mow yard
• Notify neighbors and give them a contact phone number and a house key for emergencies
• Pay Bills
• Plan day excursions ahead of time
• Record emergency name and phone numbers to leave with neighbors, relatives or pet kennel
• Take out trash
• Take pet to pet kennel
• Turn off or lower heat or air conditioner
• Turn off water to external water faucets
• Turn off water to washing machine, toilets and ice maker (remember to turn ice maker back on before using it once you get home)
• Unplug small appliances
• Water houseplants
• Write down phone numbers of credit cards (for reporting lost or stolen cards)
• Write down name and phone number of your destination on luggage, NOT your home address, if flying