Follow Amy on Twitter   @amygoyer   and on   Facebook . Leave house plants outside or with a neighbor, because having someone water the plants will add moisture to the air in the house. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Turn off and drain fountains and other sources of standing water. Turn off They should be left unscrewed or wide open, so any water remnants can drain out and any freezing has somewhere to expand into. There are certain things you must do in order to property protect you and your family, and minimize risk while you are away. Mostly common sense for a long-time homeowner, but great reminder for the new vacation, "Very informational about each step to take. Cover any plants that are frost intolerant. I would turn off my water/drain pipes, unplug everything, and empty the fridge and leave it open. ", "This helped me a lot to start preparation. Leaving your property empty for any length of time is tantamount to asking for trouble. Turn off WHAT TO DO IF YOU`RE LEAVING A HOUSE EMPTY FOR THE WINTER. But there's no need nor benefit to changing them just for a season of minimal heating. Should I turn the pump off during the winter if I have a well? To winterize a vacant home, make sure the water is turned off at the main supply point so it doesn't freeze and burst the pipes. You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. Naturally, you should inform your home insurance provider … The reasons are obvious. Don't leave anything in it in case the electricity is off for an extended period of time; you won't necessarily be aware if this occurs, and the food will have thawed and refrozen, which is very dangerous. It’s at risk of theft, vandalism, deterioration, weather damage, broken appliances, or damaged pipes, wires and structural elements. The anti-freeze will replace the water, so there won't be anything left that can freeze. Do I have to winterize a cabin before a frost comes in the Fall? Need Medicare Info? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The Risks of Leaving a Home Unoccupied. Stock Up Your Refrigerator. This one seems a bit counterintuitive — right before you leave, you clear … To create this article, 31 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This site had it all covered. A number of bills must be paid even … … If you are leaving your home empty, there are a few very easy steps you should follow to ensure your home is secure. If you post that you are leaving your home empty for a few months, you may be sending strangers an invitation to burglarize your home. Leave house plants outside or with a neighbor, because having someone water the plants will add moisture to the air in the house. Should I drain my water heater if I'm going to turn the water off? What about the brass screws that are in the outdoor hot and cold water valves? Give yourself plenty of time to have it replaced, if necessary. Eliminate or dilute the water in drain traps by pouring an "RV" type antifreeze solution into them, as directed by the instructions. Eventually, we found it effective to post announcements about items for sale or giveaway on Facebook groups and Craigslist. The place gets pretty cold (and wet) at that time of year and I have decided to leave the heating on (debate welcomed) for the duration of this period. Rather than leaving an air freshener an enclosed space (and flooding the house with an overpowering smell of pine trees), leave a ceiling fan on to blow some air through the house. Her three-bedroom house was packed to the brim, and there was no money in the estate to deal with it all. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 689,979 times. The steps include speaking to your insurance agent if your home will be covered under your current homeowners policy when you leave which will depend on your current policy and how long you are planning on leaving the house empty. Hiding a house key under the mat, in a fake rock, or inside a magnetic house … Distance was my first obstacle. Don't keep anything that is likely to go bad during the … Turning off the water at the main is the best way to guard against such leaks. ", "The reminder to shut off the water heater was a great one. Customary Ways to Leave a Home After Moving Most Sellers are good about leaving a home in presentable condition for the new Buyer. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Not only is your vacant house far more likely to be vandalized and burgled but your home and contents insurance becomes null and void after your home is empty for 30 (or sometimes 60) consecutive days. I would leave some form of heating on, a house stood empty and unheated will suffer and then need extensive remedial works to bring it back up to … Cover furniture with blankets and sheets from the house. Unoccupied home insurance covers your home if it’s left empty for longer than your standard policy allows. Drain water from dishwashers and pour RV antifreeze. Beware of leaving your house too warm if you decide to shut off the air conditioner completely. Whether you're leaving for a few weeks or a year, the following suggestions will help you to plan and execute a winterization down to the last nut and bolt. ", "Water systems and list to reopen helped.". Water leaks that develop while you are away could run up your water bill significantly, and could also cause massive damage. But he has hearing impairment and limited vision (glaucoma plus visual-processing problems associated with Alzheimer’s). Why not look into vacant property services like Global Guardians, especially if you’re travelling for an extended period, moving into a new house, closing down your business or undergoing a long-term renovation. Heating system/Electrical The heating system should be cleaned and inspected by a contractor to help ensure it is working properly, especially through the winter months, to […] Should they be screwed in or left unscrewed? The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. The last thing … You could damage wall structure and household items if the inside is too hot and humid. ", https://www.familyhandyman.com/plumbing/prevent-water-damage-while-you-are-away/, https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/winter-storm/frozen-pipes.html, https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/1690/Winter-Tips-for-Time-Away-from-Home, https://www.bchydro.com/news/unplug_this_blog/2012/vacation-checklist.html, https://www.cnet.com/how-to/prep-home-before-you-leave-for-vacation/, https://www.thehairpin.com/2011/10/ask-a-clean-person-the-pre-vacation-clean-up/, https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/preparing-your-home-for-worry-free-vacation/, https://www.nationwide.com/preparing-your-home-for-vacation.jsp, https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-can-i-winterize-my-vacant-home.htm, Preparar uma Casa de Veraneio para Quando Retornar, préparer une maison vide à passer l'hiver, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. About the author: The above Real Estate information on should I stage my home or leave it empty was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field.Bill can be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone at 508-625-0191. My sister Susie flew in from California twice, and her high energy and sense of humor were a huge boost. It’s understandable that after moving all day, sellers may be too tired to spend a lot of time cleaning, so its a good idea to move one day and clean the next, leaving an extra day before closing when possible. "Tips that helped were covering toilet with saran wrap, putting coin on top of ice tray, and emptying the water, "Answered a lot of our questions and presented an organized plan to be sure things get done and undone upon my, "Excellent overall. Due to the increased potential for something to go wrong (for example, burst water pipes, leaking gas heating systems, etc. Amy Goyer is AARP’s family, caregiving and multigenerational issues expert; she spends most of her time in Phoenix, where she is caring for her dad, who lives with her. All rent and appropriate bills would be paid. Here is a golden tip for extra safety: Do not post that you are leaving on an extended vacation or business trip on Facebook! If the house has a gas hot water heater, shut it off completely, and also unplug any appliances to avoid the risk of an electrical fire. But over three months, working for a week at a time, we finally emptied and cleaned the house and spruced up the yard a bit. If all moisture from drains evaporates, sewer gas and pests can enter the home through the drains. Drain stoppers should be closed, and toilets and tank tops sealed with plastic wrap. First, if you are leaving a house for a couple months in the winter you should turn off the water. Leave nothing outdoors that can be blown about by a strong wind. By Norman Becker, P.E. This keeps the house well above freezing and prevents the pipes from freezing and bursting. Mom had just driven Pop to the emergency room. Visit AARP’s Medicare Question-and-Answer Tool » I could write a book about this challenging process, but here are some quick tips for those who have to accomplish this on a tight budget: Set realistic goals. To learn how to winterize a kitchen in a vacant home, scroll down! Everything left over — 20 truckloads’ worth — was taken to the dump. What are the risks of owning a vacant, unoccupied house? Thank you. Get an air compressor to blow the lines of excess water. the moisture in the house. If all moisture from drains evaporates, sewer gas and pests can enter the home through the drains. Some even require having someone check your home regularly if you are more than 72 hours away from your home. the moisture in the house. Empty, wipe down and unplug the refrigerator. I would turn off my water/drain pipes, unplug everything, and empty the fridge and leave it open. Make sure that your insurance coverage is adequate for being absent during winter. What’s more, there was a long wait for them to send a truck to pick up our donations, so we ended up taking 25 truckloads to them. If you are going to leave your home empty, it’s a good idea to make it look as though someone is at home whilst you’re away, to prevent burglary and vandalism. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Customary Ways to Leave a Home After Moving Most Sellers are good about leaving a home in presentable condition for the new Buyer. If the pump doesn’t kick on, call a plumber. — which has been complicated, to say the least. There are many stories of folks leaving a house and forgetting this critical step only to return to broken pipes inside their walls. Leaving your house empty for over 3 months? We were so touched and grateful for friends and even strangers who came to get items and spontaneously pitched in to help us. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 31+ Years. But there are several preventative measures that we recommend you put in place to reduce the risks to your home. Short-term. See the  AARP home page for deals, savings tips, trivia and more. As things were packed up or removed, it became easier to sort. If you have a fountain, either empty it and turn it off or leave the water circulating to avoid mosquito problems. Place a botanical rodent repellent under the sink and on kitchen counters and use rodent deterrents under the sink and in the garage, too. Even…. Vacuum carpets and floors. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. I'm glad I checked here first, "I need to close up a home for winter and wasn't sure what to do. How much a difference it’s going to make – (where are you starting from). Do I need to change filters in the winter when the heat is turned down and the house is closed up? This article has been viewed 689,979 times. Arrange to have the lawn mowed and shrubbery trimmed. Remove and empty any "whole house" or "in line" type filter canister. ", "First time closing a seasonal cabin, and everything here helped me. Shut off any propane or natural gas or propane valves. Don’t let the yard get run down. When you’re away from the house for an extended period of time – for example, if you leave on a vacation or the property is a summer home or rental property that is vacant – there are additional factors that should be considered when deciding whether to heat or cool the unoccupied house. Pay your bills before you go. Approved. Here…, ‘Caring for Mom and Dad’ — a Documentary Hits Home, Top 10 Superfoods That Pack a Nutritional Punch, Get Involved: Learn How You Can Give Back, The CARE Act: Helping Family Caregivers From Hospital to Home, New Tools for Family Caregivers—the Promise of Telehealth, Driven to Desperation: Caring for Someone With Alzheimer’s, Simple Hearing Device Makes Big Difference for Dad, Caring for Mom Shouldn’t Mean Losing Your Job. Anywhere between 15 - 80 psi would probably be fine--just don't exceed 80 psi. It's a good practice, if you don't change them regularly. Prop open their doors, the better to forestall mold and mildew (which like to grow in the dark) and their odors, which may transfer to the refrigerator’s plastic parts. Very helpful! Just dump a half-gallon of anti-freeze into each toilet and two cups into every drain trap. Here are our helpful tips: Set up timer switches on lights on each floor and a radio on a timer somewhere near … Vacant homes can attract crime. Some are invalid if you haven’t hired a house sitter for absences of more than 21 days. To further thwart odors, place an open bag of activated charcoal on the inside of the open refrigerator. When a residential property is left unoccupied the threat of burglary, vandalism and squatting increases. Be prepared to spend a few hours getting your home ready before you and the family leave; your efforts will maintain the home’s value and ensure its continued enjoyment. Many communities also have a Freecycle Network where you can give away items. ", "Really good advice, especially to a novice snow bird! Start with sorting. This will ensure that no crumbs or other sources of food remain for vermin. If you have an indoor or outdoor pool, drain the water. Aside from enhancing security, shutters will, along with drapes, blinds and curtains, keep carpeting and fabrics from fading. Distance was my first obstacle. You may also wish to make arrangements to pay remotely by internet. Some policies suspend coverage after more than 30 … For two or more months, you may need a house sitter. If you own a vacation home in a remote area,consider leaving food and a supply of dry wood to help those people survive in the event of an unexpected, heavy snowstorm strands hikers, hunters and snowmobilers. Checklist: Closing up Your Phoenix Desert Home for the Summer Now that it is a day or two before you are scheduled to leave, here are some more things to remember to do to prepare your home for closing during the summer. If there is frost in your freezer, you'll want to wait until that has melted and been cleaned up before you leave. To create this article, 31 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. Why not look into vacant property services like Global Guardians, especially if you’re travelling for an extended period, moving into a new house, closing down your business or undergoing a long-term renovation. — which has been complicated, to say the least. Set your thermostat higher by 4 ℉ or 5 ℉ is better than full shutdown. Consider adding a remote monitoring system to check the status of your temperature, humidity and power. If a house is to be vacant for a long time, you may prevent water in a toilet’s trap from evaporating (and thereby permitting sewer gases to enter the home) by raising the toilet’s lid and seat and covering the bowl with saran wrap. Empty, wipe down and unplug the refrigerator. A few well-placed pieces of quality furniture can help connect … My dad lives with me (as do my sister and her two sons at the moment), and I also travel for work, about a week every month. wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Leaving the Utilities Off. The phone rang one day when I was at work. Drain stoppers should be closed, and toilets and tank tops sealed with plastic wrap. You can and it's not a bad practice at all. This article gave great tips on things I didn't, "Although I knew what I needed to do to winterize my vacant home, it was reassuring to have a list so that I didn't. Also, check the age of your heating system; if it is over a certain age, you may not be covered by insurance. AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Leaving electronics to bake in your house can actually decrease battery longevity, and Gibbs notes that in colder weather, turning off a thermostat increases the danger of coming home to frozen pipes. Anything can happen to an empty house! We also contacted my sister’s church, and several members came to help us. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Winterize-a-Vacant-Home-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Winterize-a-Vacant-Home-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cb\/Winterize-a-Vacant-Home-Step-1-Version-3.jpg\/aid454414-v4-728px-Winterize-a-Vacant-Home-Step-1-Version-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":"728","bigHeight":"546","licensing":"