SNOWBIRD

Our kids have always had the default responsibility to check the house & water orchids in the greenhouse.

After two extended power outages this winter we are having a whole house backup generator installed later this week. This Kohler in the side yard is going to make our winter travels simpler.

SnoBear wrote:
Sold the house - never looked back ...

X2
Same here .

I use to work for a company that provided Security Patrol. We had several clients that had us check on their houses. Most told me about their insurance companies telling them someone had to physically check on the house every 48 hours in the winter. This gave them the piece of mind that someone was coming into the house on a schedule.

All of our neighbors are watching our place we live on a dead end! We also have security alarms through out the house!

Lobstah wrote:
We are going to turn off our water, and leave the heat set to 50 deg.

Some folks will check on it every now and then, and we will notify the police dept.

Jim

exactly this.


And, our insurance man knows we're gone.

We have a couple of friends from the Northeast that rents our home for a couple of months and a family member from the Northwest that house sits the rest of the time. Rarely, rarely do we leave it empty. We have had freeze damage, tho rarely does it freeze into the teens, that could have cause big problems had the house been empty. During the summer the drip system stopped so the garden & trees would have died again if someone wasn't there. Just too much to lose if left empty.

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

WrongLane has a lot of good info above. Our agent know we snowbird like so many in our area.

On the subject of what to do to the house, here is a clicky.

With all the fellow snowbirds we meet, I have only heard of one that was house robbed. They figured it was a relative's druggy son that knew they were gone. Bad thing about this forum is it spreads so much fear from those that don't do what they are so afraid of.

I asked a friend to drive up the driveway if we had had snowfall. This gives the appearance that we are home, in addition to the timers on the lights.

If in real snowy climate, you may want to have the drive plowed, even though you aren't home.

I purchased a camera (Dropcam)that alerts me of any motion in the house. Live cam I can view on my phone with night vision. Just plug it and ready to go. Has sound and I can also talk on the cam - son comes in to water plants and I can remind him to get the one in the other room.

Turn off main water supply. That solves a lot of potential problems even if gone for a few days. Hoses to washing machines do spring leaks. Get a freeze alarm that will call your cell phone. Not expensive. Security system is good idea with locks and motion. Install motion lights outside. I installed internet cameras so I can view critical areas for problems. Notify neighbors. Don't let newspaper or mail accumulate. I have light on. Heat at 55. For me 50 was too cool and got some moisture. 55 was perfect. Still a lot cheaper than when there.