Going on holiday should feel relaxing, not stressful. But before you leave, there’s always that small mental checklist running in the background:

- Did I lock the back door?
- Did I unplug the coffee machine?
- Who’s watering the plants?
- What if someone needs to get inside while I’m away?

Whether you’re leaving for a weekend getaway or figuring out how to prep a house for a 3 week vacation, taking a few smart precautions before traveling can make all the difference. A well-prepared home gives you peace of mind and helps you fully enjoy your holiday.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the most important things to do before traveling, how to prepare your house before going on holiday, and what to check before leaving your home for a few weeks. We’ll also show how smart access with Bold makes managing your home while you travel much easier.

1. Make your home look lived in

An empty-looking house can attract attention. Simple adjustments help your home appear occupied while you’re away.
Before leaving:

- Use timers or smart lighting in the evening
- Leave blinds in a natural position
- Ask someone to collect mail or packages
- Avoid posting your holiday in real-time on social media

A home that looks active is often a safer home.

2. Double-check doors and windows

One of the most important things to do before leaving the house for a few weeks is securing every entry point properly.

Do a final walkthrough and check:
- Front and back doors
- Windows upstairs and downstairs
- Garage doors and sheds

Rushing out the door is exactly when small things get forgotten. That’s why having extra reassurance can make a big difference when traveling.

With Bold Elite, you can check whether your door is locked or unlocked directly in the Bold app thanks to the real-time lock status feature. So even if you’re already on your way to the airport and suddenly start wondering whether you locked the door, you can simply open the app and check instantly.

3. Unplug electronics and reduce risks

Many people forget how many appliances and electronics stay connected when they leave home. Even when devices aren’t actively being used, they can still consume energy or pose unnecessary risks while your house is empty for days or even weeks. Before going on holiday:

- Unplug unnecessary electronics
- Switch off extension cords
- Turn off appliances like coffee machines or toasters
- Consider shutting off water to certain appliances

Taking a few minutes to do this before traveling can help reduce fire risks, prevent electrical issues, and lower unnecessary energy usage while you’re away. It’s also one of those small tasks that gives extra reassurance during your holiday - because nobody wants to spend the first day of their trip wondering whether they left something switched on at home.

4. Prepare for a longer holiday

If you’re wondering how to prep a house for a 3 week vacation, a little extra preparation goes a long way. The longer you’re away, the more important it becomes to think ahead and prevent small issues from turning into bigger problems while nobody is home.

For longer trips:
- Empty the fridge of perishables
- Take out rubbish bins
- Set heating or cooling systems to eco mode
- Pause deliveries if needed
- Check smoke detectors and security systems

Preparing your home properly before a longer holiday not only helps keep your house safe and energy-efficient, but also makes returning home much more pleasant. After weeks away, nobody wants to come back to unpleasant smells, spoiled food, unnecessary energy costs, or missed deliveries piling up at the front door.

5. Arrange someone to check in occasionally

Even if everything is prepared perfectly, it’s always reassuring to have someone nearby who can help if needed during your trip.

Maybe they:
- Water your plants
- Feed pets
- Open windows occasionally
- Check your home after a storm
- Bring in packages or deliveries

Traditionally, this usually meant handing over a spare key or hiding one somewhere outside the house. But besides being inconvenient, that’s often not the most secure solution either.

With Bold, sharing access to your home is simple and secure. Instead of dealing with physical keys, you can easily give someone digital access through the Bold app. That means no hidden spare keys under doormats or flowerpots, no last-minute key handovers, and no worrying about where your keys end up.

Even better, you stay fully in control. You decide who gets access and when, while managing everything directly from your phone.

Preparing your home is one thing. Managing access to it while you’re away is another.

This is where Bold changes the experience completely.

Instead of hiding spare keys, coordinating handovers, or worrying about lost copies, Bold allows you to manage access to your home directly from your phone.

Because when it comes to your home, security always comes first. That’s why Bold is SKG*** certified, meeting one of the highest recognised security standards for locks. So while you’re enjoying your holiday, you can feel confident that your home stays properly protected.

But beyond security, a smart lock also brings an extra layer of convenience while traveling. From remotely sharing access with trusted friends or family to checking your lock status directly in the app, Bold offers smart features designed to make leaving home (and enjoying your holiday) a whole lot easier.

Share access with someone you trust

When you’re away for a longer holiday, it’s reassuring to know someone can occasionally check in on your home. Maybe someone is taking care of pets, checking the house regularly, or helping during your longer trip.

With Bold, you can easily give trusted people access to your home without handing over physical keys. Instead of hiding a spare key outside or coordinating key handovers before your trip, you simply share digital access through the app.

You stay fully in control and can decide exactly who gets access and for how long. Perfect for someone who needs to enter your home regularly while you’re away.

Give remote access, even last minute

Sometimes unexpected situations come up while you’re already on holiday. A friend wants to borrow a book, family arrives earlier than expected, or someone needs to quickly grab something from your house.

With Bold Connect, you can instantly give access remotely through the Bold app. So instead of stressing about spare keys or rushing home, you can simply unlock your door or share access directly from your phone.

It’s a fast and secure way to help someone out when plans suddenly change - without needing physical keys or being home yourself.

Stay in control while you travel

One of the biggest advantages of a smart lock during holidays is knowing exactly what’s happening at home.

With Bold, you can easily keep track of who enters your home through the activity log in the app. Whether someone arrives for a maintenance visit or checks in on your home while you’re away, you can see exactly when your door was unlocked.

You can also choose to receive notifications whenever someone unlocks the door, giving you extra reassurance while traveling.

And if someone tampers with your lock or door unexpectedly, Bold can send a tamper alert directly to your phone. That way, you can immediately check what’s going on and quickly contact a neighbour, friend, or family member nearby if needed.

No more spare keys

Hidden spare keys under flowerpots or doormats are still surprisingly common- and surprisingly risky, especially when you’re away on holiday.

With Bold, there’s no need to leave physical keys behind or make extra copies before traveling. Instead, you can easily manage access digitally through the app, giving trusted people secure access whenever needed.
That means:
- No copied keys
- No forgotten handovers
- No lockouts for trusted visitors
- More convenience for everyone helping while you’re away

A smarter, safer, and much more convenient solution while your home is unattended.

Perfect for unexpected holiday situations

Travel plans don’t always go exactly as expected. Someone may need to stop by unexpectedly, a cleaner might arrive earlier than planned, or a delivery could require access while you’re away.

Some common holiday situations include:
- Letting cleaners or pet sitters inside
- Giving access to family members
- Asking someone to check your home
- Allowing a delivery or maintenance visit
- Letting a friend borrow something from your house

With Bold, all of this can be arranged in just a few taps through the app - without needing to physically be there or deal with spare keys before leaving for your trip.

A stress-free holiday starts before you even leave the house. By preparing your home properly and arranging secure access, you can travel knowing everything is taken care of.

Bold helps make that easier - combining security, flexibility, and convenience in one simple solution.

So before your next trip, take a moment to prepare your home properly. Then lock up, switch off, and enjoy your holiday knowing everything at home is taken care of.