7 DIY Jobs to Tackle Before You Go Travelling (So You Can Switch Off Completely)

There’s nothing quite like the excitement of counting down to your next adventure. It's easy to get excited thinking about all of the adventures that lie ahead, but before you zip up your suitcase and head for the airport, it’s worth giving your home a little TLC. Tackling a few simple DIY jobs now can give you peace of mind while you’re away, knowing that you won't be returning home to any nasty surprises!

If you’re preparing for a long trip, here are a few household tasks to tick off your to do list before departure.

1. Check Your Fencing (and Repair Anything Wobbly)

Securing and maintaining indoor space is regularly at the top of the to do list, but when it comes to outdoors it's a case of out of sight, out of mind. Tackling garden maintenance jobs is just as important as, if not more than, completing the indoor DIY projects. Living in the UK, I've experienced more than my fare share of being welcomed home from a trip by a fence panel hanging on to the post for dear life.

If any panels are looking a little worse for wear, before you leave is the best time to replace them. Sturdy close board fence panels are a great durable option that will happily stay put while you’re off exploring the world. Fixing your fencing now means you won’t come home to storm damage, an unexpectedly open-plan garden or the local wildlife making themselves comfortable in your outdoor space.

2. Clear Out Gutters and Drains

Nobody wants to come back from a relaxing break to find overflow damage from blocked gutters. It's not something that I'd ever considered before we owned a house, but I've heard horror stories from people who didn't maintain their gutters. A quick clean-out will help rainwater flow freely and prevent leaks which can damage your home - especially vital if you’re going travelling to escape UK winter!

3. Check Window and Door Seals

Wherever you're headed, one of the biggest worries is always wanting to know that your house is safe and secure. Everyone talks about ensuring that you've locked the doors and windows, and have lights randomly switching on and off, but no one talks about the seals. Ensuring that your window and door seals are in good working order and correctly seated not only makes for a less draughty home, but it can help to ensure the security of your home by not hindering the lock sitting in the correct place.

4. Freshen Up the Garden

Give your garden a quick tidy before leaving so you have less to deal with when you come home. Trim hedges, sweep patios and remove anything that might blow around in bad weather. Coming home to an inviting space really eases the travel blues, but more importantly, tackling these jobs means you'll have less to do when you get home. Cutting slightly long grass is a whole lot easier than tackling what looks like a wheat field in your back garden (trust me, I've been there).

5. Test Smoke, Carbon Monoxide and Burglar Alarms

It’s a tiny job but an important one. Replace batteries if necessary and give each alarm a quick test to ensure they’re working properly. Even though you won't be around to hear it, the hope is that a friend, family member or neighbour will hear the alarm and ring someone to check on your property.

6. Give Key Rooms a Quick Declutter and Clean

I'm not saying that you need to do a full deep clean before you go, but tidying away any clutter and running the hoover around will make a big difference to your mindset when you return home. There's nothing worse than finishing a long travel day by opening your front door to find an absolute trainwreck on the other side. Even though packing can get chaotic (at least it does in my house), I try to put away anything that I've decided not to bring, wipe down any large surfaces in the house like the top of the sideboard, and run the hoover around so I have a nice home to return to.

7. Secure Anything That Might Leak

Take a moment to check taps, under-sink pipes and appliances like washing machines. If something looks like it might leak, tighten it or arrange a quick fix before you go. Small drips being left unchecked can become big problems while you’re away if left unchecked. I have heard some that some people turn off the water supply when they go away, but I worry about it doing damage to the boiler, so I leave it. Even if you're someone who normally turns off the water when you go away, if you're travelling in winter you should consider leaving it on. If the weather dips below freezing and the boiler can't turn on to warm the house, you could find you return home to burst pipes and a flood.

Pre-travel DIY might not be the most glamorous part of preparing for your trip, but it can make your whole adventure feel smoother. Tackling a few overdue jobs like replacing old fencing, decluttering and testing smoke alarms will leave you with peace of mind, allowing you to enjoy your travels knowing that your home is in safe and secure.