Tips before leaving home

Good Tips I found
--Make sure that someone knows your travel plans, and can deal with emergencies (do they have a key?) in your absence.
--Suspend your mail delivery, or have it forwarded appropriately (to a rented P.O. box if a long trip makes it necessary).
--Cancel your newspaper delivery.
--Inform your credit card issuer(s) of your travel dates & locations, else they might suspend your account(s) when unexpected charges appear from far afield. Make arrangements for the care of any pets in your charge. ----Adjust your thermostat settings & check its batteries as appropriate.
--Clean your toilets, and anything else prone to "growing" stuff when you're not around.
--Check your refrigerator & other storage locations for food that could spoil.
--Turn off taps, on washing machines and anything else that could leak or freeze while unattended.
--Dispose of your garbage.
--Schedule the payment of any bills that might come due during your trip; switching to on-line payment options can facilitate this.
--If using a cellular telephone with a prepaid plan, ensure that it has sufficient remaining time.
--Inspect all your doors and windows to ensure that they are secure; garage doors can be "locked" by inserting a large bolt through one of the tracks in which the door rides (there are usually holes for this; if not, drill one).
--If you use an alarm service, notify them of your plans, and let them know who to contact for emergencies.
--If you live in snow country, consider how a virgin snowfall (or drift) makes it obvious that your house is unoccupied. When appropriate, arrange with a neighbour to create car and foot tracks into the house. Or even shovel/plow.
--Unplug things (don't just turn them off); your gadgets will be safer and more rested, and why pay for electricity to keep remote controls functional while you're away? That said, leaving a couple of lights on when you're away gives your house an "occupied" look; use energy-saving bulbs, ideally on a timer.  
--Water your plants.
​--Get Travel Insurance