If you’re planning an extended vacation, or a business arrangement will keep you out of town for several weeks, all manners of home life don’t come to a standstill. Bills still have to be paid or you'll return to foreclosure and repo notices in addition to cancelled utilities. You’ll probably have your checkbook with you and can attend to many matters without assistance, but for other responsibilities, you might have to call on a very good friend. When it comes to money matters, you could choose a family member or a trusted friend, but have total confidence in this person before trusting them with your personal business. If there is no one with whom you feel confident enough to entrust, you could call on an attorney or an accountant to handle these matters in your absence. This probably isn't necessary, unless you'll be gone for a very long time. If so, make sure you well understand the terms of the agreement, charges and conditions. Have an attorney who is not associated with the prospective company look over the contract for loopholes or deception.
Another option is to check into online bill-paying. Many banks now offer this service and it's as easy as pushing a few buttons. After setting up the account, which is usually linked with your checking or savings account, you can pay many bills online by just entering the amount you'll be paying on each debt and the name of the company. The rest is electronic. Usually these money transfers are complete within a couple of days. And, if budget allows, you can always pay your bills in advance, eliminating the hassle of tending to these matters while on a business trip or vacation.
After being gone longer than expected, and depending upon the nature of your business, you might have to take care of some tax issues during your absence. Again, an attorney or accountant can handle these services for you, so long as they have access to the proper documents. If not, the person overseeing your home for you might be called upon to find the documentation and deliver it to the responsible person. It is ultimately your responsibility to see that taxes are paid, so ask for a copy of payments made to be sent to you either by regular mail, via internet or by way of fax, if possible. If not, be sure all receipts are accounted for upon your return. Minor issues like car insurance, can either be paid in advance or paid through the bill-pay service online. If you'll be gone for months, and no one will be driving your vehicle, you might want to cancel it until you get home, but if someone will be driving your car while you're gone, make sure they're insured on your current policy.
If you've left someone tending to your house and bills while you’re absent, leave a list of monthly bills, the name of the company to which these are owed, the anticipated amounts, account numbers and dates that the bills are due. This will help assure that nothing is overlooked and will cause you less concern upon your arrival home. As for the monetary obligations, the required money can be transferred to the house sitter’s account once per month or you can have your attorney or accountant send a check to cover household expenses weekly or monthly. If you have scheduled any maintenance on your home, allow for it in the house sitter’s budget, or cancel the project before setting off on your adventure. If the trip came up unexpectedly, have your house sitter make these cancellations for you. Other things to consider are paying for lawn upkeep, canceling subscriptions, rescheduling commitments and minor home upkeep.
If at all possible, keep in touch with those who are tending to your private matters and ask enough questions to assure yourself that your home and personal commitments are being handled. Keep checks with you for unforeseen emergencies which might arise. Call friends and neighbors when possible and ask them how the house looks, whether it is being maintained, whether the mail is being collected and so forth. This will hopefully reassure you while you’re busy tending to the other matters at hand.
