You have spent weeks planning your route, comparing flights, sorting visas, and agonising over what to pack. But how much time have you spent thinking about the things you are leaving behind?
When you are away for a long weekend, it does not really matter. The post piles up, the heating stays off, the car sits on the drive, and everything is more or less as you left it when you get back. But when your trip stretches to six weeks, three months, or longer, the picture changes. The things at home that you have worked hard for need looking after too, and a little preparation before you leave can save you a lot of stress and expense when you return.
Make Sure Your Home Insurance Actually Covers You
This is the one most people think of first, and there is already plenty of great advice out there. If you are a Wanderlusters reader, you may have already seen the guides on how to prepare your home when you’re leaving on vacation and how to keep your home secure when you’re abroad, both of which are worth reading before any extended trip.
The one thing I would add is this: check your home insurance policy for an unoccupancy clause. Many UK insurers will reduce or void your cover if the property is left empty for more than 30 or 60 consecutive days. If your trip falls outside that window, contact your insurer before you go to make sure you are still covered. It is a small phone call that could save you thousands.
The Thing on Your Driveway That You’re Probably Forgetting
Your car is probably the second most expensive thing you own, and yet it almost never makes it onto a pre-travel checklist. Most of us assume it will be fine sitting on the driveway for a couple of months. In reality, it often is not.
When a vehicle is left idle for weeks or months, a surprising number of things can go wrong. The battery gradually loses its charge, even with the engine off, because modern cars draw a small current to maintain their electronics. Tyres develop flat spots when the car’s weight presses down on the same section of rubber. Brake discs can corrode, especially in damp conditions. Engine oil, coolant, and brake fluid degrade over time, and moisture can build up in places you really do not want it. The RAC recommends that vehicles should ideally be driven every two to three weeks to keep everything in working order.
So what are your options? You can ask a friend or family member to start it up and drive it every fortnight, but that depends on someone else remembering and being available. You can leave it parked and hope for the best. Or, if you own a car that you have invested in and want to keep in top condition, you can look into professional car storage.
The idea is straightforward. You hand your car over before you leave, and it is kept in a secure, climate-controlled environment where it is regularly maintained throughout your trip. When you get back, it is ready to drive. No flat battery, no corroded brakes, no unpleasant surprises. Companies like Premier GT handle the whole process, so you can head to the airport knowing your investment is in good hands.
What to Lock Away Before You Lock Up
It is easy to focus so hard on what you are packing that you forget about what you are leaving behind. Expensive items that are not coming with you, such as camera equipment, jewellery, or spare electronics, should be stored somewhere secure. A small fireproof safe at home or a trusted family member’s house are both sensible options.
Important documents are worth thinking about, too. Make digital copies of your passport, driving licence, vehicle logbook, and insurance policies and store them in a secure cloud folder you can access from anywhere. If anything goes wrong while you are abroad, having those to hand can make a difficult situation much easier to resolve.
And just as with your home insurance, check whether your contents cover has any exclusions that kick in when the property is unoccupied. If it does, you will want to know before you leave rather than after something goes wrong.
Add It to the Checklist
You would not leave for a three-month trip without travel insurance. You would not fly without checking your passport is in date. So do not leave without making sure the things at home are properly looked after, either. Add it to your pre-departure checklist. A little effort now means you can enjoy every moment of your trip without a nagging worry about what is waiting for you when you get back.