[ednetdl]

I will soon be closing on a home in the Villages, and I am wondering what other snowbirders do when leaving for the season. Any special precautions that people take? Are there companies that look in on the house? If so, what can one expect to spend? Thanks in advance for any info.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by ednetdl

I will soon be closing on a home in the Villages, and I am wondering what other snowbirders do when leaving for the season. Any special precautions that people take? Are there companies that look in on the house? If so, what can one expect to spend? Thanks in advance for any info.

I see you are new to TOTV, welcome, and I hope you enjoy the Forum.
You might want to use the Search button (above) to search homewatch companies, dehumidifiers, etc.
I wish someone had told me about the Search button when I was new to TOTV!
There is a lot of excellent hints and information available in previous threads.

[TrudyM]

We bought last march and I went through all the threads on this site and this is what I came up with. We hired redwitch from this forum- (Dee) to watch our house. She comes by and checks on things and emails or calls if there is a problem. (she is very reasonable and nice to work with) There are others that are recommended on this forum as well as those who advertise here.

You must get a yard service and someone to do weeding and trimming if they don't do it. Be sure to leave a list of who has been hired to do what posted clearly in the unit with contact numbers so Dee or whomever you hire for home-watch knows what you are paying for so they can assure it gets done. PS be sure they have listed leave no cards or it is a dead give away you aren't there.

That said I did the following also:

I installed a dehumidistat control inline with my thermostat and set it to 60 so that the air conditioning would only run if it was 60% humidity or higher. That reduced the cost of running the air but ran it enough so that the place didn't mold. Well worth the cost. If your place has an older non programmable thermostat you can get one with the dehumidistat control built in.
I also turned off my inside water as the sprinkler system is on a separate irrigation water system which is how it is set up in the newer areas. I think all those south of 466 but you should check your place.

I put seran wrap over the johns and sink drains stoppered so the water in the trap doesn't evaporate as that lets sewer gas into the house. If not you have to leave the water on and your home-watch person will run the taps every once in awhile, personally I feel safer with the water off.

I flip the breaker on the refrig as I leave it empty (depends on how long you are gone for if more than a couple months the cost of running a half empty frige costs more than the value of the food in my opinion.

I also used timers for lights and a cheap radio so it would appear someone was home. (you need a cheap plug in radio as a fancy one will not turn on and off with a timer just off. I set my to talk radio set kind of loud then it really sounds like someone is home)

Click the lock on the garage door opener buttons.

Don't forget to change the locks if it isn't new as who knows who has copies of the keys.

Leave a card with your contact info with all your neighbors and notify the villages when your are leaving and returning.

Don't forget to forward mail.

[theorem painter]

The Florida Cooperative Extension always offers a class at the Lady Lake Library in March. Invaluable information and step by step handouts. Well worth your time.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Shift change time... Snowbirds are coming so the rest of you can leave now. Thanks for holding down the fort. LOL Just kidding.

[ednetdl]

Great info! Thanks, it is appreciated.