Here's a hard truth every homeowner learns eventually: the most expensive home disasters don't happen while you're standing there — they happen while you're 200 miles away on a beach, and nobody catches them for a week.
A washing-machine hose that lets go. A summer thunderstorm that knocks out the power and floods a basement. A refrigerator that quietly dies with a full freezer. None of these are dramatic — they're just unattended, and unattended is what turns a $20 part into a $20,000 claim.
Before you leave for that summer trip, run through this checklist. It takes an afternoon and it's the cheapest insurance you'll ever buy.
1. Stop Water Damage Before It Starts (the #1 priority)
Water is the single most common — and most destructive — thing that goes wrong in an empty house. A supply line to a washing machine, dishwasher, or toilet can fail silently and run for days.
The gold standard: shut off the main water valve before you leave. If the house has no water pressure, nothing can flood. Know where your main shutoff is (usually in the basement near the street-side wall) and label it.
If you can't shut the main (someone's watering plants, ice maker, etc.), at minimum:
- Turn off the valves behind the washing machine — burst washer hoses are a leading cause of home water claims
- Shut the supply valves under sinks and toilets you don't need
- Consider a smart water-leak sensor near the water heater, washer, and under sinks — a $20–$40 device that texts you the moment it detects moisture
2. Manage NJ's Summer Humidity (don't just kill the AC)
It's tempting to shut the air conditioning off to save money — don't. New Jersey summers are humid, and a closed-up house with no climate control becomes a greenhouse for mold and mildew, especially in basements.
- Set the thermostat up, not off — around 78–80°F keeps humidity in check without running the system hard
- If you have a smart thermostat, you can monitor and adjust it from your phone
- Running a basement dehumidifier (draining to a floor drain or sump) is cheap insurance against a musty, moldy return
3. Prep for Summer Storms & Power Outages
NJ's afternoon thunderstorms and occasional tropical systems love August. An empty house plus a power outage is exactly when basements flood.
- Test your sump pump before you go — pour water in the pit and confirm it kicks on and discharges away from the house
- Consider a battery backup sump pump if you're prone to outages or on a well
- Unplug electronics and sensitive devices (TVs, computers) to protect against power surges
- Clear gutters and confirm downspouts drain away from the foundation, so a downpour doesn't pool against the house
4. Make the House Look Lived-In
A house that looks empty is a target. The goal is to make it look like someone's home.
- Put a few interior lights on timers or smart plugs — vary the timing, don't leave one lamp on 24/7
- Stop mail and packages (USPS hold + pause Amazon/deliveries) — a pile on the porch is the clearest "we're away" signal there is
- Arrange for the lawn to be mowed if you'll be gone more than a week — an overgrown lawn broadcasts absence
- Don't announce it on social media until you're back. Vacation photos are fun; a public "we're in Aruba all week!" is an invitation
5. Secure and Set
- Lock everything — doors, windows, the garage service door (a surprisingly common weak point), and the door from the garage into the house
- Arm your alarm and confirm the monitoring contact info is current
- Point a camera or two at entries — a video doorbell plus one interior camera lets you check in from anywhere
- Move spare keys from under the mat to a lockbox or a trusted neighbor
6. Handle the Kitchen
- Toss or cook down perishables — nothing worse than opening the fridge to a science experiment
- Take out all the trash — a week-old bag in August is a smell (and pest) problem
- If you'll be gone a long time, consider setting the fridge slightly warmer and, for extended absences, emptying and unplugging it with the doors propped open to prevent mold
7. Ask a Human to Check In
Technology is great, but a trusted neighbor, friend, or family member with a key is the best safeguard there is. Ask them to:
- Do a quick walk-through every few days
- Bring in anything that lands on the porch
- Know how to shut off your water and where the electrical panel is — just in case
Leave them your contact info, your plumber's number, and your alarm code.
A Note for Landlords & House Hackers
If you own a two- or four-family and rent out units, give your tenants a heads-up before you travel and make sure they know who to call for an emergency while you're away (a trusted contractor, a property manager, or a neighbor). A tenant staring at a leak with no way to reach you is how a small problem becomes a big one.
A Note for Shore & Second-Home Owners
If you own a place down the shore in Monmouth or Ocean county that sits empty during the week, everything above matters double — especially the water shutoff and humidity control. A home that's unattended most of the time needs a reliable local set of eyes and, ideally, remote water-leak and temperature sensors you can monitor from home.
Selling While You're Away?
If your home is on the market and you're traveling, coordinate with your agent on showing access and how offers get handled so you don't miss a buyer. A lockbox, clear showing instructions, and a responsive agent mean your sale doesn't pause just because you did.
The Bottom Line
You don't need to be paranoid — you need to be ten-minutes-of-prep prepared. Shut the water, control the humidity, make the house look occupied, and give one trusted person a key. Do that, and the only thing waiting for you when you get home is your own bed.
Buying, selling, or just want a second set of eyes on your NJ home? Get in touch → — I'm always happy to help, even between trips.
Related Reading
- End-of-Summer Home Maintenance Checklist for NJ — what to handle when you get back
- Spring Home Maintenance Checklist for NJ
- House Hacking in NJ — if you're renting out part of your home
Mahesh Sangisetty is a licensed NJ Realtor (#2334343) with Boutique Realty, serving buyers, sellers, and investors across New Jersey.