Taking a vacation is a fabulous way to recharge and escape the daily grind we have all found ourselves in as working adults. It is essential for mental health to take a break. However, preparing for a trip also takes work. Returning home to an over-stuffed mailbox, unexpected bills, and rotten groceries in the fridge can quickly dampen all the hard work you put in to relax during your vacation. To ensure that your homecoming is something to look forward to at the end of your trip, follow these modern tips for vacation-proofing your home. These tips not only help you save on utility bills but also keep your home secure and comfortable, granting you absolute peace of mind while you are away.

Smart Home Automation

In the era of smart homes, take advantage of technology to make your pre-vacation preparations easier. Install a smart home system or use your smartphone to control lights, thermostats, and appliances remotely. Eco mode is your friend when you are away from home, so ensure it is correctly set up within your smart home systems or app. Although many smart plugs and switches now allow you to control your electronics from anywhere, it is still smart to turn off unnecessary lights and unplug appliances and devices that will not be used.

Water Management

Water is not your friend when you are away and is one of the first things you should turn off before leaving your home for an extended period. Prevent water wastage and water damage while you’re away by shutting off the main water supply to your house. This step can help you avoid potential leaks, minimize your home’s waste of water, and save on your water bill. Additionally, check for any existing leaks or drips under your sinks, coming from your furnace, or just any pipe, and have them fixed before leaving. Technology is advanced in almost all realms, so consider installing smart leak detectors that alert you to water issues while away.

Minimize Food Waste

When you walk back into your home for the first time in weeks (or months for the snowbirds reading this), you want to smell the remaining scents of perfume, candles, or detergent that linger in the air, not rotten food. So, it is smart to focus on consuming perishables and avoiding food that might go bad during your absence. Right before leaving, take one last look at your fridge, and remember the fridge doors. Empty the trash, run your disposal one last time, and call it good.

Thermostat and Water Heater Control

Keep your home’s temperature within a reasonable range during your time away and save on energy costs. Some may be tempted just to shut off the heat and get on their way, but do not do that. Your home must stay warm enough to ensure the pipes do not freeze. Smart home systems and smart thermostats like Nest know the perfect balance and run their eco mode when the smart thermostats no longer detect motion within the home, eliminating one worry for you. Additionally, modern thermostats allow you to create schedules for each zone within your home, which can be adjusted remotely using an app. If you do not have smart thermostats, set your thermostat to an energy-efficient setting that prevents extreme temperature fluctuations. In the same breath, if your water heater has a vacation mode, activate it to reduce energy consumption.

Home Monitoring Systems

This is a no-brainer. Consider installing a home security system with monitoring features. These systems can alert you to any activity or incidents at your home. Modern systems often include video cameras, motion sensors, unrecognized face detection alerts, and door/window sensors that can be accessed anytime through an app. Additionally, video doorbells like Ring allow you to see who’s at your door whenever a person is detected. There are many types of home security systems available, ranging in cost. Whatever you choose, it will help you relax as you prepare to leave your home for your extended vacation.

Peer-to-Peer Services

In the sharing economy, some opportunities can help you offset your vacation expenses. If you’re comfortable with the idea and will be away for an extended period (snowbirds, we are looking at you), consider renting out your home on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO. For those going on shorter trips or those not entirely comfortable with the idea of renters living in their homes while they are away, consider renting out your parking space to drivers in need using apps like ParqEx. By listing your parking space on ParqEx’s platform, you can decide how much to charge for your spot and make extra extra cash while you’re away.

Home Security Check

Before leaving, thoroughly inspect and secure your home. Ensure all doors and windows are tightly sealed and latched, and test their locks to ensure they function correctly. If any of your locks are damaged, replace them before leaving. Additionally, for those with sliding windows and doors, place a sturdy rod or bar in the track and lock the door for additional security.

As we enter a season of frequent travel, providing modern tips for vacation-proofing your home is essential so you can enjoy your trip with peace of mind, knowing that your home is secure and energy-efficient. These practices will not only save you money on utility bills, minimize your personal energy use, and eliminate any potential energy or water waste but also help you have a worry-free return home. Have a fantastic vacation and safe travels!

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Turn Off Everything

If you usually turn the lights off in your home before leaving for work or going to bed, so that only with ten times the thoroughness. Find lights you’ve completely forgotten about to turn off and switch off every appliance that does not absolutely have to remain functional. In fact, the only two appliances you need to have plugged in for most homes are the fridge and HVAC system. Unplug what you can as well to reduce the phantom load.

Switch Off the Water Main

Your house cycles water through the water heater, toilet, and the occasional leak all day long and for the most part, this keeps things convenient for you. However, while you’re gone you can safely stop your house from wasting a single drop of paid-for water simply by shutting it all off at the water main. This is where the city water supply (or your well) attaches to the home plumbing.

Clean Out the Fridge

No one likes coming home to whithered fruit and fuzzy cheese so do a careful audit if your fridge before you leave the house. In the last few days before your trip, try to eat everything that can go bad and resolve to throw out anything that could spoil while you’re gone. Then take out the trash and make arrangements with a neighbor to handle trash day for you if possible.

Program the Thermostat

The health of your home depends on temperatures staying between about 40 and 85 F, so your HVAC will need to remain at least partially on while you’re gone. Depending on your climate, set it to whatever will cause the thermostat to work the least amount and consider two scheduled settings for daylight and evening temperatures.

Set the Water Heater

Though the water main is off, the water heater is still full and will burn power trying to keep that water hot and ready. You can prevent it from doing this but still allow self-maintenance by setting your water heater to ‘vacation mode’ which many modern models have now. This will cause it to run much less and be ready to power back up for a relaxing shower about an hour after you get home.

Ask a Neighbor to Check-In

Just in case something crazy happens like a burst leaking pipe or an attempted burglary, ask a nearby friendly neighbor to keep an eye on your house and walk all the way around it at least once while you’re gone. If you trust them as a friend, give them a key and ask them to check in every few days while you are gone just to make sure everything is OK and the thermostat is succeeding at minimal use.

Rent Out Your Parking Space

Most vacationers don’t realize that there are opportunities to actually make a little money back during the trip through the sharing economy. Even if you’re not comfortable (or won’t be gone long enough) to book your home as a hotel-alternative on Airbnb or VRBO, you can still book your parking spot to a fellow traveler in need of somewhere safe to put their vehicle while they visit your city or neighborhood. Through apps like ParqEx, you can rent out your spot by the hour or by the day while you’re gone and if someone needs it, that’s a little slice of your trip that pays for itself.

Seal and Lock all Doors and Windows

Finally, when you’re preparing to leave the house, check every single external door and window. Make sure they close tightly, check the integrity of the weather stripping, and turn the lock into place. Then test the doors and windows to make sure the lock actually holds. Some window locks break in a way that is invisible. If you have a broken window lock, use a stick or a sturdy ruler to prevent the window from sliding open.

Once your house is completely shut down and secured, you are free to head out on your vacation confident in the knowledge that your home will be comfortable, smell nice, and with sporting unusually low utility bills when you get home. For more great tips on how to vacation efficiently both on the road and back at home, contact us today!

The post How to Lower Your Bills at Home While You Vacation appeared first on ParqEx.

Hotel Pros

Hotels have created their industry by offering services you can’t get staying with relatives and sharing economy rooms. They have perfected offering a certain amount of service and luxury to guests en masse. If you’re looking not just for a quiet night’s sleep but also a lot of amenities, room service, and a downstairs gym, hotels still have what you’re looking for and always have.

• Room Service
  • Being able to order a hot tasty meal delivered to your room in 15 minutes is incredibly convenient and if you get sick on your business trip, it’s downright necessary.
• Concierge Desk
  • The concierge desk is a hotel’s best feature as they’re prepared to source services and rides for guests at any time. From dry cleaning to finding a kicking party to attend, the concierge desk is there for you.
• Strategic Downtown Locations
  • If you like the nightlife or need to visit a variety of downtown buildings and don’t want to rent a car, hotels are more likely to be in walking distance of all the biggest buildings in town.
• Gyms and Spas
  • Most vacation rentals don’t come with exercise equipment so if you were planning on pumping iron or spinning on your trip evenings, a hotel is the better choice.

Airbnb Cons

• Non-Guaranteed Quality
  • Because these are people’s homes and not corporate hotel rooms, sometimes the pictures and descriptions are insufficient or inaccurate. It is possible for locations to be much messier, less private, or even completely different from what was depicted online. Before booking a professional trip, get confirmation that the space is what you expect, preferably in video-tour form.
• Potentially Chatty Hosts
  • If you want peace and quiet, there is a potential problem with very friendly hosts who live nearby and want to chat. However, if you make it clear when booking that this is a quiet business trip, most hosts will respect your desire for space.

Hotel Cons

• Rushed Cleaning
  • Because of the way hotels are scheduled, room service is often rushed to clean rooms between check-outs at 10 and check-ins at 3. It is common practice to only change what appears to be dirty and to leave comforters in place for weeks at a time.
• Private vs Privacy
  • While your room may be private, the hallways, elevators, and continental breakfast buffet are not.
• Data Security Problems
  • In the last year, hotels have suffered extensive hacking attacks targeting both lists of guest credit card information and hacked wifi to steal valuable data from high-level professional guests on business trips

The next time you’re planning a business trip to a distant city, don’t immediately plan to stay in one of the cookie-cutter impersonal hotel chains. While comparing rooms, amenities, and prices, consider browsing the entire-unit listings in the area on the vacation rental sharing economy. While it’s not guaranteed, there might just be a perfect little home or apartment that is much quieter, more private, and altogether more welcoming to a traveling professional than a classic hotel room. Depending on what you value most in a business trip, the quiet, privacy, and complete working kitchen at a great price may be exactly what you need to make you feel at home on your business trip, lowering your travel stress and boosting your work performance. And if you’re looking for a way to make a little money while you’re gone, don’t forget to rent out your empty parking space at home on ParqEx! For more great sharing economy tips and insights, contact us today.

The post Is a Sharing Economy Vacation Rental the Right Lodging Choice for Your Next Business Trip? (Part 2) appeared first on ParqEx.

We have good news! You don’t have to let your current financial situation get in the way of your summer fun. As long as you’re willing to put in a bit of effort, you are perfectly capable of tossing your money worries out the window and heading out on a summer adventure of your own. In fact, you may even be able to afford a splurge or two while you’re at it.

How should this be true? The answer is simple: the sharing economy. In case you haven’t heard, the sharing economy is thriving, and you are just as qualified as anyone else to take advantage of it. Therefore, we have compiled a list of three easy ways you can use the sharing economy to put some extra cash in your pocket and fund your summer fun.

#1: Drive Your Car

At this point, it’s pretty unlikely that you’ve missed hearing about Uber. However, most people only talk about this company as a way to get around, not necessarily a way to make money. Therefore, a good number of individuals have never even considered using Uber to boost their income.

That said, this is definitely something you should consider. After all, how bad could driving your own car around your city be? Not only will you make money doing something you do every day, but you’ll also meet some pretty incredible people along the way.

Learn more about driving for Uber here.

#2: Go Shopping

Another opportunity to make money doing something you already do regularly comes from a relatively new company called Shipt. This peer-to-peer service sharing platform gives busy people the option to hire people to do their grocery shopping for them.

Why not be one of those shoppers and help out a few busy folks while also earning some extra cash? You’ll gain some money and they’ll gain some time, making it a win-win situation or all involved.

Learn more about shopping for Shipt here.

#3: Rent Out Your Parking Space

Perhaps the easiest money-making opportunity of them all, renting out something you already own is an amazing side hustle made even easier by the variety of peer-to-peer sharing platforms out there. There are platforms for sharing everything from houses to tools, meaning you are sure to find something to rent out for extra cash.

Here at ParqEx for instance, we offer people just like you a chance to make some money by renting out unused parking spots. This is a great way of bringing in income, because a parking spot requires very little upkeep, meaning your profits go straight to your pocket. Therefore, if you have a parking spot in a popular part of town, we highly recommend looking into this option.

Learn more about renting out your parking spot on ParqEx here.

By taking advantage of the opportunities listed above, you are sure to start bringing in some extra dough pretty quickly. This means it won’t be long before you can book a vacation for yourself. Don’t forget to use the sharing economy on your vacation by using such services as Airbnb and VizEat. By doing this, you will support the system that supported you while also enhancing your vacation experience.

Want to learn more about the amazing ParqEx platform? Please contact us today!

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The best thing about peer-to-peer rentals? They are typically offered for much cheaper than the corporate alternatives. Additionally, many of the rentals acquired through the sharing economy offer something more than you might get from a big corporation. Whether that means a better view, a closer parking place, or a car with all the bells and whistles, this is a major bonus for you as a customer.

For these reasons, putting the ever-growing sharing economy to good use on your next vacation is something you should seriously consider. After all, who doesn’t appreciate paying less for a room with a bigger bed, or shelling out money for a rental car knowing they are helping out an individual instead of an enormous company that doesn’t know they exist?

So where should you take your money when you hit the road? Here are four of the very best peer-to-peer rental companies for travelers. Next time you’re ready to see a new part of the world, be sure to check them out.

Airbnb

Likely the most well known of the peer-to-peer rental companies, Airbnb (pronounced “AIR bee inn bee”) gives home owners the opportunity to rent out unused houses, apartments, and rooms to those looking for short-term rentals. Whether you need a room for a couple nights or an entire month, you are sure to find something on Airbnb.

Feeling nervous about renting from a stranger? No worries! Airbnb has set up a place for past customers to leave their review of a particular rental and renter. Be sure to read all reviews thoroughly to avoid unexpected surprises and you will be good to go!

Couchsurfing

Like Airbnb, Couchsurfing offers homeowners a chance to rent out unused space. However, Couchsurfing differs in that the space being rented is usually only a couch or bed. This means the homeowners are usually in the same house as the travelers.

For some this may seem like an awkward situation, but for others it is perfectly acceptable, and considering the fact that Couchsurfing is absolutely free, it is definitely something worth considering.

Turo

If you will be flying to your destination, you will likely need a rental car to get you from point A to point B. This is where Turo steps in.

This peer-to-peer car rental platform connects car owners with those in need of a rental car in cities all over the United States. This mean you can rent a car—which is likely sitting around unused most of the time anyway—for less money and from somebody who can really use the cash.

Turo is definitely set up to be a win-win situation for everyone involved, making it a truly wonderful business.

ParqEx

You know that rental car we mentioned above? Well, if you are visiting a big city, you will probably have trouble finding a place to park it. ParqEx has come on the scene for just this reason.

When using ParqEx, travelers just like you are able to choose from and rent a variety of convenient parking places all over the larger cities of the US. However, these parking spots aren’t just any parking spots. Instead, these parking places are owned by individuals—just like you and me—who simply don’t need to use the spot at the current moment.

Because these individuals own parking places in busy cities, they are able to share with those in need and make a bit of extra cash while they’re at it. This mean they get some spending money, you get an affordable and convenient parking spot, and the spot gets some much-needed use. What could be better than that?

Interested in learning more about how the sharing economy can help you? Please contact us today at ParqEx.

The post 4 Peer-to-Peer Companies to Use on Your Next Vacation appeared first on ParqEx.

At ParqEx, we don’t think this is how it should be. That’s why we’ve scoured the Internet for the best travel news sites. They’ll help you book your arrangements, from where you’ll be staying to what you’ll be doing to how you’ll be getting around.

• KAYAK. If you don’t want to search through hundreds of sites to find the best deal, you can rely on KAYAK to do the hard work for you. Here, you can find and book the best deals on flights, hotels and rental cars. They provide a one-stop shop for all your travel needs, so you can spend more time focusing on the more important things — like how much fun you’re going to have.

• TripAdvisor. Never go to a hotel without knowing exactly what to expect again! They offer totally unbiased hotel reviews that will tell you the truth about what it’s actually like. Many times, they even provide photos, so you can see exactly what you’re getting into. As a bonus, this site offers solid travel advice on how to make your vacation the best that it can be.

• Triptease. Plan your activities for your whole trip with this site! Users offer up solid itineraries that you can browse through, while also finding the very best deals based on your trip and what you want to do. Community-oriented and extremely knowledgeable, they will help you plan your trip every step of the way, and you will fall in love with every single step that you take.

• Jet Lag Rooster. There is nothing worse than changing time zones and finding yourself too exhausted in your new place to truly enjoy every minute of your vacation! Fortunately, there’s Jet Lag Rooster to help you out. When you insert your travel details at least 3 days before you fly out, they’ll design you a personalized sleep schedule to make sure jet lag is the last thing on your mind.

• Travellr. When you need quick but still detailed advice, this is the place to find it. This website connects you with travelers who’ve been where you’re going, and it offers up their insight on how to get the most out of your experience. From restaurant suggestions to travel ideas, they offer the expert advice you always love to have before making any major decisions, especially on vacation.

Even if, after you’ve used these sites, your booking and planning was a little stressful, you can always rest easy knowing that ParqEx is here to make parking simple for you. From reserving your spot at a reasonable rate to being adjustable if your plans change, we make it our goal to make sure that your vacation is easy and enjoyable — just like it’s supposed to be.

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