A Few Things Before You Go: The Pre-Easter Student Checklist

Though Easter never quite reaches the sparkle and euphoria that go together with Christmas, having a few weeks off as the spring weather starts to trickle in and the blossom trees begin to bloom is no bad thing. This applies whether you stick around uni for the holidays, or you opt to make the trek back to your hometown. If you choose the latter, there are a few things you’ll want to check off your list before you leave.

Who’s Doing What When?

Particularly if you live in a larger house share, pinning people down as to their holiday plans and when they will be away can be like trying to untangle a tight knot; a real test of your patience. Make it easier for yourself and create a group chat (if you don’t have one already) where you check with people if they’re leaving, when they’re leaving, and who can be responsible for what. This way, everyone knows where they stand, and the majority of chores aren’t left to whoever is left.

Spring Cleaning

No-one wants to do it. In fact, there are some who will trip over themselves to get out of any kind of cleaning. Yet it’s always a good idea to get a bit of cleaning done before you leave.

If you’re part of a house share, you can make this a great deal easier by splitting up what needs doing before you leave to lighten the load. Even if you’re the sole occupant, if you fit in one or two things per day, you’ll be done in no time.

Cleaning the fridge and throwing out perishables is a particularly important one, as is taking out the bins; no one wants to return in late April to the unsavoury smell of sour milk and a puddle of half-dried bin-juice all over the floor.

When it comes to your bedroom, you’re the best judge. However, it’s usually best to keep on top of any untidiness or other issues to avoid it ballooning into a mammoth task by the end of the year. With exam season not too far off, it will ensure you don’t have to work too hard to get that tidy desk space your tutors keep saying you need for effective revision.

Check, Then Check Again

As well as dividing pre-Easter chores, it can be a good idea to delegate parts of the house to check before you leave. Easter usually lasts for a few weeks to a month at most institutions, though for some unis the break can be longer or shorter, so it’s advisable to save as much money as you can in the time you’re gone.

Turning off the heating so you won’t be warming an empty house over the holidays is always advisable. If you’re looking to save some extra cash, unplug as many sockets as you can (with the exception of the fridge) so you won’t be using even minimal amounts of electricity.

Checking your boiler is a major one if there is no one else in the house over the break. However, avoid turning it off completely, as this can cause the pipes to freeze if the temperature drops. Instead, turn it down to a frost setting or on a low heat before you leave.

In the rare instance you find anything that needs repairing, you can enlist the help of loc8me’s swift and easy-to use services and book maintenance.

Keep a Lid on Your Absence

Maybe posted photos on your Instagram story when you were abroad for a few weeks last summer. That may have worked fine when you were living with family or carers but advertising an empty or even partially empty house over Easter is not the best idea.

No matter how solid your social media privacy settings are, there is always a chance that it could be seen by the wrong person just waiting for a (sometimes literal) window of opportunity.

At loc8me, properties are always vetted to ensure they are in safe, secure areas. However, it is always better to be safe than sorry and avoid divulging your absence to strangers online.

The only people who need to know you will be away are your housemates and your neighbours, who may be able to keep an eye on the house during your absence. Investing in a lamp which switches on at timed intervals to make the house look lived-in is never a bad idea will also help to give you peace of mind