Tom Kelly: Helpful hints before you hit the road

Our young neighbor, Christopher, was proud to announce his first job – a watering and monitoring assignment down the street, not unlike my first job many decades ago.

His clients were heading out for a summer tour, an Americana car journey that will include visits to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and the Grand Tetons.

Christopher was asked to water the plants, collect any wayward newspapers and junk mail and turn on the light above the garage a few times a week.

Sound familiar?

The neighbors had been planning the trip for months and would be gone six weeks. All of the family members, with the possible exception of a teenage daughter, were eagerly awaiting the adventure.

Another family will live in their house during the two weeks, using it as a base for excursions around the region.

What Christopher has that I didn’t (other than an uncanny ability to properly coil a garden hose in seconds) is access to a variety of vacation checklists on the internet. Many offer tips and suggestions for vacation preparation, including information even a youngster taking on his first job can understand. For example, today.com is constantly watching consumer trends, news and other indicators that help with an accurate pulse of consumer needs and interest.

If you are headed out for more than a couple of nights, take extra time to prepare before you pack. Here are some suggestions before you back the packed car out of the driveway:

• Leave a light or lights on when you’re away, preferably with an automatic timing device. Install motion-sensor landscape lights near all entrances to the house; these inexpensive lights can eliminate shadowy areas.

• Stop deliveries, such as mail and newspaper. Many consumers are correct in thinking a large mailbox will suffice.

• Don’t let strangers know when you’ll be away. Don’t forget those pesky telemarketers who often ask when they can call again.

• Have a trusted neighbor check your home. Young people love the extra spending money for summer expenditures.

• Insure your possessions and keep an up-to-date inventory. Most every insurance carrier will tell you prized possessions are under-insured.

• Store your valuables in a safe deposit box. Take a couple of extra items to the bank box when you withdraw your spending cash.

• Install a burglar alarm system. In the alternative, apply security stickers to your windows.

• Trim shrubs and trees close to the house. Overgrown shrubs can provide a hiding place for intruders. Trim plants frequently, and don’t let shrubs grow so tall that they obscure windows. Cut away dense shrubbery near doorways or basement entrances.

• Secure your home with quality locks on doors and windows. If it’s time to do it anyway, it makes sense to be better safe than sorry.

Break-ins often occur when homeowners are away on vacation and homes are unattended. A good rule of thumb is not to let your house look unoccupied.

A lot of online tips are not rocket science, but they are not things people always remember in the busy time before leaving the house.

Also, if you do rent your home – like our neighbors are doing for the final two weeks of their vacation – you can probably pay for those preparation measures with tax-free cash. But you don’t have to be a resident of an exclusive community to pocket tax-free rental cash.

That’s because you are allowed to rent your home for 15 days or fewer as long as you don’t claim any of the tax deductions typically allowed on rental property, such as for depreciation or maintenance. This option can come in handy for folks who do not want to be in the rental game, yet occasionally find they could rent their place.

That’s something to consider, during any season.