(Photo by Nomad_Soul on Shutterstock)
NEW YORK — With the holidays right around the corner, plenty of people are dreading the return of — the travel checklist! It may sound silly, but a new poll reveals that going on vacation is a job in itself.
The recent survey of 2,000 American homeowners finds that the average person has at least six tasks on their to-do list to get ready for vacation. Near the top of the list were items like doing last-minute shopping (70%), cleaning the house (54%), making sure friends and family have a key to the house in case of an emergency (50%), unplugging appliances (38%), and setting the lights on a timer (28%).
Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by Schlage, the survey looked at homeowners’ pre-vacation checklists to see which home safety measures are top of mind and which fall through the cracks before jetting off. Respondents will generally check at least twice if they’ve locked the front door before heading out.
Needing extra peace of mind, vacationers will do two “last looks” around the house, on average, to make sure nothing has been forgotten and everything looks good before they depart. Despite all this, nearly a quarter (22%) will typically turn the car around and go back home because they forgot something or need to do one final “last look.” Talk about pre-trip paranoia!
One of the top reasons for these pre-trip delays was simply needing to re-check if they’ve actually locked the front door (40%). Even still, nearly one in 10 respondents (8%) have returned home post-vacation to find that the door really was unlocked!
However, security worries aren’t reserved for pre and post-vacation: They seep into homeowners’ travels too, according to the study. Respondents reported it takes at least half a day (31%) — or even a full day for some (18%) — to fully relax, unwind and enjoy themselves on a trip.
According to the results, some of the top reasons for stress while on vacation included worrying about the state of things back at home (33%), missing a pet (30%), and mail or packages being stolen (19%).
Respondents estimated they spend an average of 19 minutes texting neighbors to go check on things and rolling the tapes on security camera footage, while 13% will spend over an hour doing so.
“A secure home means a worry-free vacation,” says Tim Eskew, director of product management for Allegion, maker of Schlage Locks, in a statement. “With advanced security technologies, you can enjoy peace of mind by remotely monitoring your home’s status and receiving real-time notifications of any activity. This enhanced visibility lets you fully immerse yourself in your travels, knowing your home is well-protected.”
Of the homeowners polled, the majority (65%) have at least one person visit their home while they’re away, whether that’s a house sitter or neighbor checking on the home. The going rate for a house sitter or someone who checks on the house is $28 per day, according to jittery homeowners.
Whether homeowners hire a sitter, ask friends or family to come over, or neither, 14% have come home from vacation to an unhappy surprise. Common disasters respondents found after getting home included theft or burglary, water leaks and flooding, and lights left on, racking up the electricity bill. Some even discovered doors left wide open upon returning home.
“It’s always a smart move to have friends, family, or professionals keep an eye on your home while you’re away,” Eskew says. “It ensures any issues can be quickly addressed, so you can return to your home just as you left it — safe and sound. And with reliable security measures and remote monitoring in place, you can relax knowing your home is secure and only accessible to those you trust.”
Survey methodology
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American homeowners; the survey was commissioned by Schlage and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between Aug. 2 and Aug. 6, 2024.
