If you’re planning to take a spring vacation with the whole family, you most likely have already  prepared many of the essentials that you will need to hit the road, or to get ready to hit the beach.

In addition to the plans you’ve already made, you need to wrap up any loose ends around the house and make sure you leave your Branson apartment or rental home safe and secured. No one wants to worry about what might happen in their apartment while they're enjoying a beautiful spring vacation. Check out the tips below for a checklist of to-do’s before you leave. If you remember to do these things before you go on vacation, you'll be sure to have peace of mind while you're away.

Tell your landlord

If you review your lease agreement, you may find a clause about a pre-vacation procedure. Within the lease, there may be a stipulation that you need to inform your landlord when you're leaving your apartment for a vacation or for an extended period of time, and you need to inform him of the approximate date when you'll be back. Make sure your landlord has your most up to date contact info, in case there is an emergency inside the unit while you are away and they need to reach you.

Figure out the parking situation

If you are taking your car with you on your vacation trip – then there's no need to worry about the safe parking of your car. If you are planning to leave your car in a parking lot or garage while  you're away, you should take care of a few safety details before leaving. First, remove all of the valuables out of your car, roll up the windows, and lock the doors. Secondly, move it to an out-of-the-way spot – where you think it will be safe while you're not even there. Your landlord might know an ideal place to leave your car, or have an out of the way spot they’d prefer you park, so be sure to ask your landlord about this before you go.

Put your mail on hold

You can ask your local post office to hold your mail instead of delivering it to your mailbox while you're away. It's easy to do this by filling out an online form detailing where you live and the dates you won’t be at home. When you return from your trip , go to your post office and pick up all of your mail and any packages that came for you while you were away.

Arrange online payment of your bills before you leave for a vacation

It's a good idea if you arrange to pay your bills online before you leave for a spring vacation. You can ask your bank to schedule automatic withdrawals from your bank account to ensure you never miss a payment, or you can schedule a payment ahead of time with the billing company. Making sure your bills are paid ahead of time, before leaving for vacation, will help avoid late fees and will keep your credit rating in good standing.

Arrange for pet care

Ask your friends or neighbors to look after your pet while you are away. If you aren't sure of the sincerity of your friend in taking care of your pet, find a boarding facility where your furry friend will be able to stay. If you are unsure what facility to use, ask your vet for recommendations. When you drop your pet off to stay, leave the staff or caretaker a detailed list of feeding times and amounts, as well as instructions for any medications your pet is taking.

Adjust the thermostat

Before you leave your apartment, check the weather forecast and set your thermostat accordingly. If you live in a colder area, be sure to leave the thermostat at or above 70 degrees in case of freezing temperature. This will help keep the apartment warmer to assist in your pipes staying warm and unfrozen. If the weather looks particularly favorable and you'll not be away for too long, you might even turn off the thermostat while you're gone, saving you even more money while you're on vacation.

Ask a neighbor or a friend to check on things while you're gone

If you have houseplants, then you need someone to water them. Most importantly, you need to find a friend who can make sure that things are going well at your apartment and who will let you know if things aren't going well. Having someone visit your place at least once a day will also make it look like someone is staying at home, keeping burglars from targeting your apartment.

If there is no one to come by, invest in a timer that will  turn on your lights at specific times of the evening. These plug-in timers are available for around $5 at your local home improvement store. While the timer can't water your plants, it will make it look like there's someone staying in the unit.

Unplug electronics

Every electrically-powered appliance draws power when plugged in. Before you leave your apartment for a vacation, look around and unplug everything that doesn't need to run while you're away. Appliances and electronics that aren't in use must be unplugged while you're gone, and every little bit can also help reduce your electricity bill.

Clean the place

Clean every corner of your apartment and be sure to empty your garbage bin, take away food scraps from your kitchen, and avoid leaving half-finished laundry as they can be a breeding ground for bacteria or a feast for bugs, which you don't want to settle while you're away. Take out the trash, don't leave unwashed dishes in the sink, wipe down your counters, throw away perishable food, and make sure to clean the bathroom before you go. That's a lot to do, but you'll be glad you don't have to deal with the smell, bugs, or rotten food scraps in the kitchen when you get back.

Prepare for your return

When you get back from your vacation, you and your family will probably be tired and will be ready to take a rest. Before you leave, it might be a good idea to prepare a frozen meal that you can quickly reheat for a quick meal. It will be easier than cooking and cheaper than eating out the first day you come back from vacation. If you immediately want to get back to work the day after your return home, be sure to make ready your work attire and all of the things you need for work, so you don't have to worry about taking the time to prep it when you get back.

No matter how near or far you’re going, before you start packing the things to take for your spring vacation, you've got to do a few things to cross off your checklist in your apartment before you leave.

Thousand Hills Realty is Branson’s premier property management company. If you came to Branson for Spring vacation and want to stay, call us today at (417) 337-8081. We would love to help you find a Branson apartment or Branson home to long term lease!