Quote:
Originally Posted by mrf0151
So enjoyable to own a home down here and up there too.  |
After watching approximately 200 different homes over a 6 year period, you'd be surprised at how many people leave windows unlocked! Be sure when locking windows that have plastic keepers (most do) that the keeper is firmly seated in the slot. The aluminum window frames may bend and when you close the keeper it may not seat in the slot.Rather, it will push the aluminum frame out. I estimate that 10% of the homes that I've watched leave something unlocked. Other things that are a good idea:
1. Don't close the toilet seats. When closed there is no circulation thus, mold will build up in toilets. Many people are afraid that critters (snakes, frogs and bugs) will come up into the toilet. I haven't seen it in my 6 years of doing home watches.
2. Don't close interior doors. Leave them partially open. This includes laundry room doors and closets. Again, this is a circulation issue and when air doesn't circulate in the house various odors build up. DO LOCK THE ENTRY DOOR FROM THE GARAGE.
3. Sewer gas is a common problem and hard to get rid of. Make sure that your home watch service (if you have one) runs water from all spickets, toilets and faucets and showers at least once per month. This will help stop the build up of sewer gas and corrosion of internal metal parts.
4. Turn off garage door openers. There have been cases where airplanes generate signals that will open garage doors. This means that if you have a home watcher that they should enter you house via a key through your front door, not using a garage door opener.
5. Have home watchers run your golf cart briefly ( a few block) once per month. Battery tenders are a good idea whether you have a gas or electric golf cart. Older (carburetor) carts will build up shellac when gas evaporates in the carburetor...this is expensive to have services. The biggest issue is running the cart monthly is to make sure all of its parts are working and get exercised, especially the battery.
6. If you leave a car/suv/truck in the garage, have the home watcher start it once per month. Insurance issues abound if a home watcher drives your car. But, starting it and running it in place will keep fluids moving and exercise the electrical system. Low tires are a common problem and if you have a home watcher make sure that he or she alerts you to a low tire. Most newer cars have low tire pressure indicators.