Fall weather is setting in. With Columbus Day weekend coming up, it’s that time of year to bid farewell to lake trips as millions of Americans will close up their summer seasonal homes for the winter. Snowbirds will also begin getting ready to close up their primary homes to head south for warmer temperatures.
This is particularly true in for our customers located in the Northeast where HUD (huduser.gov) figures 750,000 seasonal homes are located. The National Association of Realtors (realtor.com) says that seasonal home sales, up 21 percent in 2014, are the most active residential sales category. If you’re a first-time seasonal home owner, shutting down your home correctly is of paramount importance, so you don’t return to find your home damaged by cold-weather perils.
Travelers Insurance Co. has a common sense downloadable checklist intended for snowbirds but applicable to all seasonal homes. Other good sources for specific conditions and homes are: thisoldhouse.com and homeprony.com.
Here’s a short version of Travelers’ tips:
1. Make your home look lived-in.
Don’t let your mail pile up, arrange for snow removal, and use exterior sensors and interior light timers to give your home the appearance that you’re around, so thieves are discouraged. You’ll also want to make sure you can retrieve messages on your home answering machine or voicemail so it does not indicate FULL or unattended when someone calls.
2. Protect your home from thieves.
In addition to step one, there are many things you can do around the house to help keep it safe from thieves. Check that alarm systems are all a go, windows and doors (particularly sliders) are securely fastened, remove valuables and don’t trumpet your travel plans on social media.
3. Protect water pipes.
The burst water pipe nightmare stories are legendary. Most of us know about draining and turning off water supplies, but life is trickier if you have a sprinkler or heating system that require a water supply.
If your water supply stays on, keep the heat at 55f. degrees. Today’s technology provides a lot of solutions for seasonal homeowners. You should look into having a water flow sensor and low temperature sensor installed on your main water supply pipe and hooked into a constantly monitored alarm system or your smart phone. If you use antifreeze in toilet bowls, make sure it’s non-toxic.
4. Perform routine maintenance before you leave.
Leaving your home in good condition will make it more likely that it will be stand up well through winter weather. You should have have your heating system inspected and serviced before winter. Fill your fuel tanks and ask someone to check on heat and fuel levels regularly.
Some maintenance items may involve hiring a professional, as you’ll want check the electrical system and roof and remove overhanging tree limbs before you leave. Those can be big jobs that are best left to a pro.
5. Make your home unattractive to pests.
You may think your home is unoccupied while you’re away, only to return and discover some critters have made it their own! To keep pests and furry friends out of your home, take a few preventative measures to make your home unattractive or impenetrable to them.
Clean your home thoroughly before your leave and clean, defrost and unplug refrigerators, ovens and freezers, wiping them dry and leaving doors propped open to prevent mildew. Make sure fireplace flues are closed, chimneys are clear and doors, windows and insulation are tight to discourage critters from taking up residence.
6. Be ready for emergencies.
Preparing your home for a period of vacancy is the best way to prevent disaster, but there can still be things that go wrong. To avoid emergencies, take a few steps to make a plan if something does go awry while you’re away.
Notify the police department that you’ll be absent and provide emergency notification numbers, should something go wrong. Install smoke detectors on at least every floor (preferably tied to a constantly monitored fire alarm system linked to the fire department and confirm that the sensors and system are tested regularly). In higher wind-exposed or coastal areas, install storm shutters (or other mitigation measures, such as 5/8” marine plywood) to secure windows. Properly anchor personal property that will remain outdoors.
Talk with your insurance agent to make sure your policy is up-to-date and will cover the current structure and personal property in your home. Also be sure to discuss if there are exclusions pertaining to periods of vacancy for the home - you may need a specialized policy to cover your home during your absence.
Most advisers encourage a boots on the ground approach to check on vacant homes. A growing cadre of winter caretakers, often for less than your deductible, will check your home weekly for problems. That’s particularly true in tough winter coastal areas where flood insurance may be limited or unavailable.