You may be an expert at buying the perfect gift or baking the most delicious turkey feast. Perhaps you’re known in your circle of friends for your ability to wrap a stack of presents and only use two pieces of tape per gift.
But do you know how to prepare your apartment while you’re away for the holidays?
If not, that’s ok. Just follow the helpful list below and you’ll be an apartment-prepping expert by the time you read the last sentence!
Notify Your Concierge That You’ll Be Away
Whether you’re away for the entire Thanksgiving weekend or spending the entire holiday season with family, you should inform your apartment’s concierge of the dates you’ll be away from your apartment.
Why?
It’s not only a common courtesy, it also lets your concierge know that your apartment is going to be vacant for a few days or weeks. With that information in mind, they’ll be able to keep an eye on your apartment and resolve any issues that occur while away for the holidays.
In addition to letting them know the dates you’ll be away, you should provide them with your contact information and/or the location of your holiday stay. That way if an emergency arises, they can notify you right away.
Lastly, if you ask a friend to “apartment sit” for you while you’re away for the holidays, you should definitely let your apartment community’s concierge know. If they’re unaware of this information, they could mistake your guest as an intruder or thief. And no one wants that to happen!
Place Your Mail On Hold While You’re Away
The holidays are some of the busiest times of the year for our mail carriers. Sometimes they can barely close our mailboxes due to all of the cards, letters, catalogs and packages that are sent during the season.
If you plan on being away from your apartment during any point of the holiday season, it’s best to place a temporary hold on your mail. Not only does this request prevent your mailbox from overflowing, it also makes sure your mail or packages are not stolen.
Placing a temporary hold on your mail is simple. While you’re out shopping, you can stop by your local post office and place a hold request. They’ll just need your name, address and the dates you’ll be away. If you don’t want to visit the post office, you can simply use the USPS website to place a hold on your mail.
When you return from your holiday break, visit the post office to retrieve your mail and request to restart your regular service.
In addition to holding your mail, we also suggest you reschedule any package deliveries, too!
Clean And Empty Your Fridge Before You Leave
You’re so busy packing for your holiday trip, requesting mail holds, and notifying your apartment concierge of your vacation, that it’s easy to overlook an important piece of apartment prepping: cleaning out the fridge before your leave.
Foul odors from expired, rotten food in the fridge not only makes your apartment unpleasant, they’ll also bother your neighbors, too. Spoiled food can also attract rodents and insects, too!
Sidestep these potential problems by cleaning out your refrigerator, emptying your trash cans and removing any open or packaged shelf-stable food from your kitchen counter before you leave for your holiday vacation.
Make Sure Your Apartment Is Secure Before You Go
While you’re away for the holidays, your concierge will do their best to keep an eye on your vacant apartment. That being said, it’s your responsibility to ensure that your apartment is secure while you’re away.
Before you leave for your holiday trip, close and lock all windows. This includes any doors that lead to your patio or balcony.
Not only do these simple measures prevent trespassers from entering your apartment, they also prevent rain and snow from damaging your apartment and possessions.
Return To Your Apartment Without Any Issues
Now you know how to prepare your apartment for your holiday vacation!
By following these steps above, you’ll be able to enjoy your holiday vacation without worry – and return to your apartment without any issues!
If you plan on spending any part of the holiday season away from your 363 Bond Street apartment, just let your helpful concierge know. They’ll be happy to help any way they can!
If you have any additional questions about how to prepare your apartment for your holiday vacation, contact us today!