Winter break is drawing near and finals are almost at a close. This means a solid month off of classes, meetings and exams. You’ll finally get some uninterrupted rest and relaxation time to recover with with your family. But if you live in an apartment, there are a few things you’ll want to do before you leave your apartment to head home for the holidays. We at the Lofts of Columbia put together a few things you will want to do before you leave that will save money and keep your apartment safe while you’re gone. 

If you’re staying in town for the holidays and still need a place to stay, sign a lease with the Lofts of Columbia! We have four convenient locations in the Columbia, Mo area and two of them are located in the heart of The District . It has everything you’re looking for: in-unit laundry, a balcony in every apartment, spacious rooms, secure buildings, in-house maintenance, and building security. Interested in leasing an apartment with us in time for the holiday season? Give us a call to schedule a tour today!

After your last final gets out, you’ll probably be rushing home to throw things in a bag and head home for a month to spend time with friends and family back in your hometown. But there are things you need to do in preparation for the month ahead. And even though you won’t be living in your apartment for a month, you will still want to take care of it. 

Get Your Mail Forwarded Home 

Winter breaks are pretty long, so you should think about getting your mail forwarded to your parents’ home. You won’t want to fall behind on any bills or important school information that might get mailed to you. If you’re not worried about missing out on bills or information, you can also submit a “hold mail” request to your local post office, and it will keep your mailbox from overflowing. 

Empty Your Fridge 

If you’re about to head home and your refrigerator is full, try and eat as much as you can or invite your friends over and try to empty it. After you’ve diligently tried to get rid of all of your food and there’s still some left sitting in the fridge that will go bad, throw it out. You won’t want to deal with that stink mess when you come back for the spring semester. And also, when your fridge is full, it will run harder to keep the food cold, which uses more power. And will cause a higher electricity bill.

Turn your Heat Down 

It doesn’t seem smart to heat an empty apartment, especially when winter utilities are already so expensive, but you should definitely keep your heat on. But you can turn it way down while you are away at home for the holidays. A frozen apartment during a brutal winter can lead to busted pipes and water damage to your apartment and belongings. 

Turn off the Water 

With the harsh Missouri winters, you will want to turn the water off in your apartment. If the water stays in the pipes and freezes while you are away, you will come back to your apartment with an unpleasant surprise. Pipes can possibly explode or just stop working. If you aren’t exactly sure how to turn off the water in your apartment, check with your property manager ask for assistance. 

But If you do ever have an issue with your apartment, such as busted pipes, we have our own maintenance team at the Lofts that handles everything you would need. We have a form on our website you can fill out that specifies the issue and allows you to choose when to have maintenance work on the problem. No surprise maintenance staff walk-ins here!  You can also select ‘emergency’ for things warranting serious, immediate repairs. Most non-emergency repairs are solved within 48 hours. 

Lock Up

Locking up before you leave for a month seems like a no brainer, but something that people don’t think about is locked their windows. When you’re living in the apartment you’re probably opening the windows all the time to get a light breeze in, and closing them without locking them. 

But since you’ll be gone for a month, it’s time to lock up the windows and close the shades so there’s no one peeking into your apartment. Plus, closing the blinds can help keep your energy bills low.

Unplug Everything 

Be sure to unplug everything in your apartment that doesn’t need to be plugged in, including everything from lights to computers. You can significantly decrease the electricity costs, depending on the time you’ll be away. Leaving lights on and things plugged in could be a possible fire hazard as well, so this should be at the top of your list of things to do and the last thing you check for. After you’re done packing and heading out the door, do one last walk-through before leaving.

Interested in leasing an apartment at the Lofts? Our loft apartments in Columbia, Mo are the ideal place to live if you are a student or young professional. Our downtown locations are mere steps from the University of Missouri, Stephen’s College, and Columbia College. We are also close to the business, shopping, and art districts in Columbia, Mo. Most of our downtown tenants rarely need their vehicle to get to the essentials, as downtown Columbia is incredibly walkable. Our properties in Cherry Hill and The Manors have on-site parking to give you easy access to your vehicle! 

As far as amenities go, each loft is outfitted with a flat screen tv, stainless steel appliances, washer and dryer unit, granite countertops, jacuzzi tubs and private bathrooms. Every apartment has its own scenic balcony with sliding glass doors which are perfect for relaxing after a long day of school or work. Additionally, all maintenance fees are also included in your rent, so no need to worry about hidden fees if something breaks. Living at the Lofts of Columbia means living a life of ease and luxury – who doesn’t want that? We are leasing loft apartments now, so don’t hesitate to give us a call . We can’t wait to meet you!