Wht to do with my home?

[Keith_Haw]

Sense my dad passed away the middle of last year the DW and I have been trying to travel more. The problem that bothers me though is leaving the house empty for 1 to 2 months at a time. My question is for y'all that do the "snow bird" or seasonal travel thing, what do you do about your home while your gone?

[noe-place]

Local law enforcement will come by periodically and do a walk around residences in our area. You might check and see if they'd do it for your property.

[sowego]

How well to you know and trust your neighbors, do you have close friends or family nearby?

When we traveled long-term
*we hired a service to take care of the yard.

* we shut off the water and electricity to all major appliances.

*left 3-4 lights on timers for the normal use hours as if we were home

*our neighbors parked at least one car in our driveway everyday.

It worked so well that when a new neighbor moved in across the street they didn't know someone wasn't home!

If you are really worried have a security system installed or ask someone you trust to live in the house while you are gone or stop by often.

[rvrev2]

Reader1 wrote:
X2 for all the great suggestions. Even if we are gone a couple weeks we turn off water, etc. The other thing we do is put a bowl of ice cubes in the freezers. When we return, if the ice cubes have melted and have refrozen in the bowl we would know that we can not trust the food in the freezer because there was a power outage.

What a FANTASTIC, simple idea. I never thought of that. Thanks for this suggestion!!!!

[Francesca_Knowl]

Make sure to double-check your homeowner's insurance as to coverage for long absences. There can be limits to how long one can be away before a house is considered "unoccupied", which can affect or even void a policy.

[CavemanCharlie]

All good advice. I think someone said to get the mail picked up, and if you live in a area that gets those free papers full of ad's stuck in your door don't forget to get someone to pick them up right away too.

[Reader1]

X2 for all the great suggestions. Even if we are gone a couple weeks we turn off water, etc. The other thing we do is put a bowl of ice cubes in the freezers. When we return, if the ice cubes have melted and have refrozen in the bowl we would know that we can not trust the food in the freezer because there was a power outage.

[aruba5er]

If you have an entry and things get broken or stolen you will think twice about " it can be replaced" B and E is a personal violation thank you will NEVER forget. Trust me. I have an alarm system and the next door neighbor does a daily walk-thru because I do not shut off the heat. Turn it down to 60. Found that wallpaper seams opened at 50. Water off at main, waterheater turned to pilot, indoor/outdoor thermo stuck into freezer so he does not have to open door to check temp. Another neighbor mows or shovels. Still I don't like leaving. I see a twind-a-min in the future.

[Keith_Haw]

Thanks for all the replies.
We do shut off the gas and water before we leave and the neighbors tend to keep an eye out for each other here where we live. We don't have an alarm system but have thought about it. Having someone come by and check every couple days sounds like a good idea, hadn't thought about the insurance requiring it. I guess I'm just paranoid and not used to leaving my home unattended for months at a time. But your right, it's just a house and everything can be replaced.
Thanks again.

[mlts22]

I'd consider some steel roll-down security shutters as well as a monitored alarm system and perhaps a set of cameras to a DVR. Roll-A-Shield is one example. That way, there is a theft deterrence aspect. Couple that with getting the neighbor's kid to mow the yard and keep an eye on things, and if anything happens, that is what insurance is for.

I also like having outdoor electric receptacles on a switch only accessible from the inside as well as locks on outdoor hose bibs. I don't think it is as big a problem in Arizona as it is here in central TX, but come several festival weekends in Austin, people will park their trailer in random house driveways and use their water/electricity until the police come and force them to move... then they go a block away and set up shop again until the property owner files a notice of trespass.

Don't buy a condo unless you have a lawyer look over the HOA agreement and such. Trust me on this... even with a lawyer going over agreements, I paid in blood for this lesson, because a HOA can easily jack up their assessments without any way of protesting. I'd keep the house as an investment and spend a little bit to add better security (shutters, cameras, etc.) as well as the usual maintenance.

[sayoung]

I would recomend a thermostat that you can check the temp in your home using wi-fi.Lowes/Home Depot sells a Honeywell that is similar to the ones I get at the supply house.
Some alarm systems have this feature also.

[richardwise]

Our granddaughter graduates high school this spring, and will be starting at Kent State University branch here in New Philadelphia this fall, which is only 5 miles from our house. Plan is to let her live in the house while we winter somewhere warm.

[RockyMt]

Simply Safe alarm system-has freeze and water alarm as an add on-so far trouble free.(neighbor picks up mail)

[Tom_Diane]

Agree with all the above replies. You might hire a neighbor kid to mow your grass while your away. You don't want the city citing you for noxious weeds nuisance! You could also get a lamp and put a timer on it so it lights at night for a couple hours to make the place look occupied.

[donn0128]

Sell it!