Whether it's the holidays, spring break, or summer vacation season, preparing for a trip can involve a bunch of planning. Before locking up and hitting the road, read our suggestions on how to prep your apartment for being away.

Put a Few Lights on Timers

Timers are a great way to hide the fact that you’re gone to an outsider while also not using energy 24/7 when you’re gone! For example, having lamps set to automatically turn on in the evening and turn off around bedtime will make it seem like your day-to-day routine isn’t broken and that someone is home in the apartment.

Photo courtesy of Camden Asbury Village

Prepare Your Packages

It’s a good rule of thumb to avoid having packages sent to your address while you’re away. A package sitting at your doorstep for days on end is a sign that you’re not at your apartment. We recommend that you plan accordingly. Amazon has many lockers and pickup locations, and UPS, FedEx, and others offer similar services. Be sure to utilize these if you know something’s going to be delivered while you’re gone. And bonus, most Camden leasing offices have a flyer they can share with you showing where these are located in the area!

Utilize your Chirp Access Smart Lock

Most Camden apartments are equipped with a Chirp Access smart door lock, and there are a lot of great functions to use on it when you’re out of town! First off, if you’ve made some new friends in your apartment community and you trust one to check on things for you, grant them temporary access through Chirp Access. You can set up timed access for them to stop into your apartment every few days to ensure all is well. They can even slip that package that arrived unexpectedly to your door inside for you! Not to mention Chirp Access will keep a log of who’s been in and out of the apartment. Remind your friend to use the Chirp Access app to lock the door behind them each time they leave. It’ll give you extra peace of mind, and you can confirm your apartment home is locked up safely.

Practice These Maintenance Tips

Our amazing maintenance team will tell you that these few maintenance tips are vital before leaving your apartment for a few days. First off, don’t turn your HVAC system completely off. Instead, keep it running at a lower/higher temperature. In the summer, set the AC to something warmer than usual but no higher than 85 degrees. Keep the heat running at a lower temperature in the chillier months, but no lower than 50 degrees. Of course, keep all windows closed and blinds shut while you’re away so your system doesn't work harder than needed to cool/heat your space.

Photo courtesy of Camden NoDa Apartments

Additionally, be sure to unplug any small appliances you may have. For example, suppose the apartment experiences a power surge while you’re away. In that case, having your appliances unplugged can prevent damage and eliminate fire hazards.

Remove All Trash From Your Apartment Before You Leave

Clearing out the refrigerator and taking all the trash out is always a good idea when you’re away. Not only does this prevent you from coming home to smelly trash and expired food, but it can also prevent pests. The good news is, many Camden communities have doorstep trash pickup multiple nights per week. So set your trash out the night before you leave, and your apartment will be trash-free the next day when you leave! For most, your home is your most precious space, and we know how important it is to know that it’s well-maintained and kept safe while you’re enjoying a vacation. Thankfully, Camden apartment communities have a lot to offer to help ensure a stress-free time away!