When you close your vacation home and don't come back for several months or years, you may want to prepare it to prevent it from deteriorating. This means that you will need to take targeted measures to keep your property safe when you are not there.
Steps
Step 1. Make a list
Look at the interiors and exteriors of the house and decide on your action plan, otherwise you may forget some necessary tasks. Divide the list into the following categories.
Part 1 of 5: Utilities and Plumbing
Step 1. Turn off the water
During the colder days, it could freeze in the pipes, which will eventually burst.
Step 2. Open all the taps and drain the toilet, the boiler (first turn off the gas or turn off the electricity) and the expansion tank, especially if it is an area where temperatures drop dramatically
- Eliminate or dilute the water in the drain siphons by pouring antifreeze into them; follow the instructions.
- Close the sink and tub drain.
- If the house is going to be empty for a long time, you can prevent the water from the toilet siphon from evaporating (letting the smell of sewage into the house) by lifting the lid and seat and covering the toilet bowl with saran plastic.
- If you have a swimming pool, drain the water.
- Turn off and drain fountains and other sources of static water.
- Drain the water from the dishwasher, refrigerator (especially if it has a water dispenser and icemaker) and washing machine. Follow the instructions in the manuals. Remove the water filter from the refrigerator.
- Remove and empty all canister filters.
Step 3. Set the thermostat to an adequate level to keep the house temperature stable, to keep it from getting too low and to keep everything dry
If the property is in a hot or humid climate, you should install a humidistat.
Step 4. Disconnect all electronic devices:
microwave, TV, etc. You will avoid the risk of fire and rodents from gnawing on cables.
Step 5. Don't forget the gas
For long absences, some experts recommend turning off gas boilers completely.
Part 2 of 5: Preparing the Kitchen
Step 1. Clean the refrigerator and do not leave anything inside, also because you will turn off the power
- Empty everything, even the freezer.
- If you need to freeze food and will not take out the refrigerator, here is a method to determine if the freezer has warmed up over the winter: fill a container with water and let it freeze; when the water has taken on a solid form, open the container and place a coin on the surface of the ice; if on your return you find the coin "sunk" in the ice, the freezer has heated up in your absence, melting the ice and then freezing it again.
- Wash your refrigerator and freezer thoroughly. Leave the doors open to prevent fungi (which grow in the dark).
- To eliminate odors, place a bag of charcoal inside the open refrigerator.
Step 2. Remove all food from the pantry
Dry ones should be stored in tin-lined or aluminum-lined furniture. Seeds and grains should be placed in hermetically sealed metal containers.
Step 3. Protect yourself from insects and rodents
- Wash the trash cans and put away the soaps, sponges, candles, and any other possible food sources for the parasites.
- Set insect traps under the sink and on kitchen counters, and put chemical deterrents for rodents under the sink and in the garage.
Step 4. Eliminate objects that could freeze, especially bottled liquids (such as mineral water, fizzy drinks, beer and paint); the containers may burst when the contents freeze
Empty the pots and small indoor fountains.
Step 5. Take out the trash before you leave
Part 3 of 5: Prepare the Rest of the House
Step 1. Wash all household linens and store them in rodent-proof boxes
Remove the sheets from the beds to air out the mattresses. Leave drawers and cabinets open after putting mothballs inside them.
Vacuum carpets and floors. Make sure there are no crumbs or other food residues left
Step 2. Remove all flammable items, such as stacked newspapers, before you leave
Step 3. Close the chimney and the draft valve
Step 4. Ask someone to water the plants if necessary
Part 4 of 5: Outdoor Areas
Step 1. Protect the yard and garden
- Ask someone to mow the lawn, prune the shrubs, and water the garden.
- Cover cold-intolerant plants.
- Have the garden watered if necessary.
Step 2. Store your outdoor furniture in a garage, shed, or storage unit
Do not leave anything outside that can be blown away by the wind
Step 3. Lock your boat, jeep, bicycles, canoes, kayaks, or car in the garage
Plug the window of this space so you don't see what's inside.
Part 5 of 5: Security Measures
Step 1. Lock all access doors and windows
Invest in high quality locks. Before you leave, make sure everything is closed.
Lower the window shutters. In addition to providing added safety, this step will protect the curtains from fading
Step 2. Make believe that someone is home
Buy a couple of light timers and set them to turn on automatically in the evening. Also ask the neighbors to take a look at the property every now and then.
Step 3. Don't leave valuables
If you really have to, make sure they don't show up on the outside.
Take all small valuables with you
Step 4. Go to the mail to suspend the service
- Pay your bills before you leave. Maybe, do it on the internet.
- Ask a neighbor to keep any packages that will arrive by courier for you.
Step 5. Have someone check everything regularly, especially if it's a neighbor
Leave him an emergency key as well as your phone number and e-mail address.
Advice
- If the property is located in a remote area, leave some food and wood (buckets) for those people who get lost in a snowstorm, hikers and hunters. Of course, you will have to leave the house open, so only do so if you don't keep anything of value in it.
- Insurance coverage must be adapted to the months of absence. As the chances of something going wrong increase, insurance companies can ask for various requirements. Some, for example, may require someone to check your home regularly if you have to go away for more than 72 hours. If something happens in your absence and you have not hired anyone to look after your property, this clause may exclude you from the right to be covered. Also, check the state of the heating system: if it is old, it does not mean that the insurance will cover you. If necessary, replace it in time.
- Plan a few hours to spend on these steps before you leave, so you will be more comfortable.
