Why you should take photos of every room in your house before going on holiday

It only takes a minute, but could save you a lot of stress (Picture: Getty Images) Packing your suitcase, checking your passport, and making sure you get to airport on time are likely top of the list when you’re heading off on holiday. But amid this flurry of last-minute travel arrangements, it’s easy to overlook the home you’re leaving behind. If you’ve ever spent a break worrying you’ve forgotten to lock the door, you’ll know that tiny oversights can cause a lot of stress when you’re supposed to be relaxing. Thankfully though, there’s a simple trick to avoid all doubt — one TUI flight attendant Faye Whittaker calls a ‘non-negotiable’. Before every trip, the cabin crew member swears by taking photos or videos of every room in her home, and recommends all travellers make it part of their pre-getaway routine too. ‘We’ve all had that last-minute panic of wondering whether we left the iron, straighteners or oven on,’ she explains. It’s easy to get swept up in the last-minute packing and prep (Picture: Getty Images) ‘I’ve even been on my way to the airport before and found myself trying to picture whether I definitely switched everything off.’ Regularly being away from home for days at a time, Faye decided to find a way to stamp out that lingering sense of dread — and in her experience, the best solution is cold, hard evidence. After a final walkaround to check everything is as it should be, she now takes a video of each room in the house. Would you take pictures of your home before leaving for a holiday? Absolutely, it's a smart idea.Check Probably, to have peace of mind.Check Not really, I don't think I need to.Check No, it seems unnecessary.Check Sign up to The Getaway Expert, your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's travel editor, Alice Murphy. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘It takes less than a minute, but it means that if I suddenly start second-guessing myself, I can check my phone and put my mind at ease straight away,’ says the cabin crew member. ‘It can also be useful if you ever need to check something while you are away. ‘While nobody likes to think about something going wrong, having recent photos or videos of your home and possessions may be helpful information to have available if you ever need to make an insurance claim or show what was inside your property.’ And that’s not the only tip to help quell your unoccupied home anxieties. Empty the fridge ‘Milk, leftovers, fruit and food waste can quickly create unpleasant smells, particularly during the warmer summer months,’ Faye says. Before you leave, she advises checking what’s in your fridge and throwing away anything that’s likely to expire while you’re away. Don’t forget to take out the bins, too. ‘A simple trick is to set a reminder on your phone for the evening before you travel called “fridge, bins and food waste”,’ adds the cabin crew member. ‘It means you aren’t trying to remember everything while also dealing with last-minute packing.’ Pause or rearrange deliveries As well as potentially leaving you with a pile of out of date perishables when you get back, meal kits, subscription boxes or parcels sitting at your front door for days on end can also be a dead giveaway to burglars that nobody is home. A pile of parcels is a dead giveaway nobody’s home (Picture: Getty Images) As such, Faye says it’s a good idea to double check if anything might arrive while you’re away. A quick search through your emails can help you catch anything you’ve forgotten — just look for words including ‘delivery’, ‘subscription’, ‘grocery’ and ‘parcel’. Tell somebody you’re going away… but not everybody ‘If you’re away for longer than a few days, it’s always worth letting a trusted neighbour, friend or family member know,’ says Faye. ‘Whether it’s moving a parcel, watering plants, putting a bin out or spotting an issue early, having somebody nearby who knows you’re away can provide real peace of mind.’ For longer trips, she also suggests using timer switches or smart lighting so the house appears occupied in the evenings. The Metropolitan Police echoes this, recommending people ‘leave lights and a radio on a timer to make the property appear occupied’ and ‘consider asking your neighbours to close curtains after dark and to park on your drive.’ However, its website notes that you shouldn’t tell everyone you’re off on your jollies, explaining: ‘If you wish to post anything on social media, make sure your posts aren’t public and that they’re only seen by your friends.’ Go through the fire safety checklist Finally, before you head off, it’s worth doing one last check for potential fire hazards. According to the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, ticking off the tasks on this fire safety checklist is a must-do before leaving for the airport: Turn off all gas appliances that do not need to run whilst you are away. Turn off and unplug all electrical devices that are not needed whilst you are away. Turn off the water at the mains. Water leaking from pipes can cause electrical wiring to short out and cause a fire. Close all internal doors – any fire that does occur will be better contained and reduce the amount of damage to your home. Make sure you have working smoke alarms – this will let neighbours know if a fire starts whilst you are away. Once you’ve done all this, you’re free to enjoy your getaway without any frantic ‘did I leave the…; Googling from the sun lounger. And if something does go wrong while you’re away, at least you’ll know you weren’t to blame. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Our Top Shopping Picks Amazon has slashed the price of Cetaphil's bestselling sensitive skin products Parents can save up to 30% on Kickers school shoes ahead of the new term The back-to-school hack that's helping parents avoid queues and sold-out sizes Could your hair be wavy rather than straight? 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