Tips when leaving your home for extended periods

Many of us leave home for extended periods.  When we do, we should always take certain precautions:

1) cut off the water supply to the toilets;
2) tell a neighbor you are going to be out of town and how to reach you;
3) make sure a neighbor has a key to your house and knows your burglar alarm code; and
4) arrange with a friend or neighbor to check inside your house at least every other day while you are gone.