I've done both. Must say I prefer coming home to a made bed, cleared shelves and a floor I can actually see. But invariably whoever is charged with bringing in the mail and newspapers ends up dumping them in a messy pile on my kitchen table.
My family are notorious packrats and untidiers. Some worse than others. (Anyone else have problems with men who will not throw junk mail away until they're read it three times, dated it, and finally determined it will still be junk on another day?)
If I get a good day to prepare for my trip then I can straighten things out. But unfortunately work always seems to take advantage of me right until the last minute. So I'm left scrambling to get everything in order and a few broken egg shells are left behind. But the trash and recyclables always get emptied, dishes washed, and anything that smells disposed of.