It can be hard to relax on vacation if you’re worried about what’s going on back home. But a few simple measures can help properly secure your house and give you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your time away.

Hold mail and deliveries. — The U.S. Postal Service makes it easy to put a temporary hold on your mail. And don’t forget to suspend newspaper and other recurring deliveries, like Amazon subscriptions.

Make it look like you’re home. — Use automatic timers for indoor lights and maybe a TV or two. And keep some curtains open; closed curtains suggest that you’re away and give criminals more cover.

Recruit a friend or neighbor. — Ask a neighbor to keep an eye out for unexpected deliveries and park their car in your driveway from time to time. If you’ll be gone for an extended period of time, arrange for someone to mow your lawn.

Freeze your social posts. — Don’t announce your travels on social media, and wait to share pictures until you’re back home. Burglars are increasingly scouring social networks for victims. Check your social network settings, too, so you’re not auto-tagged in pictures by your travel companions.

Monitor from afar. — From cameras and sensors to remote monitoring and notifications, there are numerous options for added protection. Some home security systems can even send you an alert when someone’s at your door.

Secure your valuables. — Before you go, make an indoor sweep and lock up sensitive financial statements, jewelry, laptops and other valuables for additional security and peace of mind.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to give your financial institutions a heads-up about your travel plans. A stream of out-of-state or out-of-country charges could prompt an unnecessary alert that puts a hold on your account.

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Vacation home sales are booming, particularly in beach and boating locations in the South and West. If you’ve always dreamed of a home away from home, be sure to ask yourself the following questions.

How will you use it?
Will it be a seasonal home and future retirement spot? A vacation home you’ll also rent out? Pick a place you love, but heed the advice of experts who say the sweet spot is a destination that’s no more than a three-hour drive from a major metro area. The proximity can help with resale, plus it usually draws a larger pool of potential renters. If rental income is important, ensure local laws or association bylaws allow it before making a purchase.

Can you afford all of the costs?
Don’t just look at the purchase price to determine if you can swing it. You’ll need to also factor in property and insurance taxes, potential homeowners or condo association fees, and the cost of utilities and maintenance. Your tax implications will vary, too, depending on how you decide to use the home. If you rent it out for more than 15 days a year, for instance, you’ll need to declare the income to the IRS.

Do you have a plan for when you’re gone?
If you live more than a couple of hours away, a local property manager may be helpful for overseeing tenants and dealing with maintenance issues. You’ll also want to take measures to protect your home when no one is there. A security system is a no-brainer, and it might even reduce insurance costs. Other good bets include motion-sensitive exterior lights, timers for indoor lighting, and a car parked in the drive every so often (courtesy of a neighbor).

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When spring arrives, the urge to get outside and start planting can be hard to resist — even for those with a brown thumb. Here are some tips on what to do and when to do it for a healthy, bountiful garden.

Early Spring — You may find yourself snowed in or rained out when spring first begins, or maybe you’re just deterred by the muddy state of your yard. Be ready to act when conditions are ripe.

• Rake leaves, clear sticks and remove any debris that could hinder proper drainage.
• Check trees for signs of damage or decay. Remove loose or dead tree limbs, and prune flowering trees and shrubs.
• Pull early-growing weeds to help reduce weeding later in the season.

Mid-Spring — Once things have dried out, you can begin to make some real headway.

• Start a compost pile to enrich the soil and help it retain water. Grass clippings, leaves, coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable scraps are common compost items.
• Check your plant hardiness zone to determine the best vegetables to grow in your climate and decide what you’ll be planting.
• Use a planting guide to find out the best time to start sowing seeds or transplanting starter plants, and get planting. Consider carrots, tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers and herbs.

Late Spring — This is when your gardening really kicks in.

• Establish a plan for dealing with common garden pests before they become a potential problem. Here’s a helpful series on organic pest control.
• Add an even layer of mulch to the soil around new plantings to deliver nutrients, control weeds and conserve moisture.
• Maintain your growing garden with adequate water and fertilizer for a plentiful harvest.

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