20-Point Checklist: What to Do Before Leaving Your Mountain Vacation Home
Before you lock the door and head back to your primary residence, run through this checklist. It takes 30 minutes and could save you from a very expensive surprise on your next visit.
The last hour before you leave your mountain vacation home is usually rushed. You are loading the car, doing a final sweep for forgotten items, and trying to get on the road before traffic builds. It is exactly the wrong time to be making important decisions about your property.
The solution is a written checklist you run through before that final hour — ideally the morning of your departure, when you still have time to address anything you find. This 20-point checklist covers the most common sources of damage and loss for vacant second homes in the NC High Country.
Print it out. Keep it on the refrigerator. Run through it every time you leave.
Security
1. Lock all doors and windows — including interior garage doors. Walk every room. Check every window latch. It sounds obvious, but unlocked entry points are the most common security failure in vacation homes. Do not forget the door between the garage and the house interior.
2. Confirm your alarm system is armed and your monitoring service has current contact information. If you have a monitored security system, verify it is active and that the monitoring company has your current cell number and a local emergency contact who can respond if you cannot.
3. Put interior lights on timers or smart switches. A home that is completely dark every night for weeks signals vacancy. A simple timer on one or two interior lights creates the appearance of occupancy at minimal cost.
4. Secure or store any valuables. Firearms, jewelry, electronics, and irreplaceable items should be secured in a safe or removed from the property entirely if you will be away for an extended period.
Plumbing and Water
5. Check under every sink for drips or moisture. A slow drip that goes unnoticed for weeks can cause significant mold and water damage. Take 60 seconds to look under each sink before you leave.
6. Shut off the water supply to washing machines. Washing machine supply hoses are a leading cause of water damage in unoccupied homes. The hoses can fail without warning. Turning off the supply valves when you leave costs nothing and eliminates the risk entirely.
7. Run the dishwasher and garbage disposal before leaving. Standing water and food residue in these appliances can cause odors and attract pests. Run a short dishwasher cycle and flush the disposal with water and a bit of dish soap.
8. In winter: verify your thermostat is set to 58°F minimum. This is the most important winter step. Set it to 62°F if your home has pipes in crawl spaces or exterior walls. Confirm the smart thermostat is connected to Wi-Fi and that low-temperature alerts are active.
9. In winter: confirm propane or heating oil level. Running out of fuel in January is one of the most common causes of frozen pipes. Check the gauge before you leave and schedule a delivery if you are below 30%.
HVAC and Utilities
10. Replace the HVAC filter if it is due. A clogged filter reduces efficiency and can cause the system to work harder — or fail — during your absence. Check the filter and replace it if it has been more than 60 to 90 days.
11. Set the water heater to vacation mode. Most modern water heaters have a vacation or away setting that maintains a lower temperature, saving energy without allowing the tank to cool completely (which can cause issues in cold weather).
12. Unplug small appliances and electronics. Toasters, coffee makers, phone chargers, and similar devices draw phantom power and represent a small but real fire risk. Unplug anything that does not need to remain on.
13. Turn off the ice maker. Ice makers can malfunction and overflow. Turn off the ice maker and empty the bin before you leave.
Exterior
14. Clear the deck and porch of furniture cushions and lightweight items. Mountain storms can arrive quickly and with significant wind. Cushions, small tables, planters, and decorative items left on decks can become projectiles or sustain damage. Store them inside or in a covered area.
15. Check gutters and downspouts. Clogged gutters cause water to back up against the fascia and roofline, leading to rot and water intrusion. In winter, clogged gutters contribute to ice dam formation. A quick visual check takes two minutes.
16. Secure the trash and recycling. Bears are active throughout the NC High Country. Unsecured trash cans — even empty ones that retain odors — can attract bears and result in property damage. Use bear-resistant containers or store trash inside the garage.
17. Check for any obvious storm damage or tree concerns. Look up. Are there any dead branches hanging over the roof or deck? Any signs of damage from the last storm? Note anything that needs attention and schedule it before your next visit.
Smart Home and Documentation
18. Confirm your smart home devices are online. If you have a smart thermostat, water leak sensors, security cameras, or a smart water shutoff, verify they are connected and reporting before you leave. A device that has lost its Wi-Fi connection provides no protection.
19. Leave emergency contact information visible inside the home. Post a sheet near the main entry or on the refrigerator with your cell number, a local emergency contact, your plumber, your HVAC technician, and your home watch provider. Anyone who enters the property in an emergency — a neighbor, a first responder, a contractor — should be able to reach you immediately.
20. Notify your home watch service of your departure date and any changes. If you use a professional home watch service, let them know when you are leaving and when you expect to return. Note any issues you observed during your stay that they should monitor. The more context they have, the more effective their visits will be.
The One Thing This Checklist Cannot Replace
Running through this checklist every time you leave will significantly reduce your risk of returning to a damaged or compromised property. But it cannot replace regular professional monitoring while you are away.
A home watch service visits your property on a scheduled basis — typically weekly or biweekly — and conducts a systematic inspection of everything on this list and more. They catch the slow leak that started three days after you left. They notice the furnace that stopped running during a cold snap. They find the tree that fell on the fence in last week's storm.
At High Country Home Watch, we serve second-home owners throughout Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, Linville, Seven Devils, and Valle Crucis. Every visit includes a written report with photos so you always know exactly what is happening at your property.
Contact us to learn more about our home watch plans.
Printable Departure Checklist Summary
Security
- All doors and windows locked
- Alarm armed, monitoring contact info current
- Interior lights on timers
- Valuables secured
Plumbing and Water
- Under-sink check complete
- Washing machine supply valves off
- Dishwasher and disposal run
- Thermostat set (58°F minimum in winter)
- Fuel level confirmed (winter)
HVAC and Utilities
- HVAC filter checked/replaced
- Water heater on vacation mode
- Small appliances unplugged
- Ice maker off
Exterior
- Deck furniture and cushions stored
- Gutters checked
- Trash secured
- Storm damage and tree concerns noted
Smart Home and Documentation
- Smart devices online and reporting
- Emergency contact sheet posted
- Home watch service notified
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