Secure Your Property for the Off-Season: Essential Tips and Tricks

As the summer season comes to an end, we want to provide you with a helpful checklist to ensure that your property remains clean and safe during the off-season. Following these guidelines can help protect your home while you are away. If you find this checklist overwhelming or if you've discovered that you're using your vacation home less than you'd like, consider letting us manage your property for you. We can take care of the hard work so you can enjoy your investment stress-free!

Here's the checklist to prepare your property for the off-season:

INTERIOR PREP

• Empty your refrigerator, unplug it, and prop open the door.
• Remove food from the pantry or store it in mice/insect-proof containers.
• Clean the fireplace and close the chimney flue.
• Strip the bedsheets or leave fresh sheets on all the beds.
• Ask your waste management company to hold service until next season.
• Arrange for your local post office to forward mail to your home address.
• Check the sump pump's operation and clean storm drains if necessary.
• Unplug electronic devices and turn off the main water supply.
• Open faucets, showers, and hose bibs to drain the pipes.
• Set the thermostat to vacation mode.
• Turn off all lights and close shades/drapes.
• If desired, secure your home with alarms, light timers, and pest traps.
• Lock all doors and windows.

EXTERNAL PREP

• Prepare the landscaping by fertilizing, pruning, weeding, and cleaning the area.
• Bring inside or cover outdoor items such as furniture and garden accessories.
• Cover the grill and disconnect the propane.
• Drain and store garden hoses.
• Install storm windows if available.
• Put faucet covers on exterior water hose nozzles.

USE TECHNOLOGY

• Set up temperature alarms and use remote cameras and smart locks for monitoring.
• Ensure all billing and contact information is accurate with utility companies so nothing gets shut off. 

Remember, Escape to Center Hill is here to provide professional support in managing your property, or we can also refer you to Center Hill Realty to explore the possibility of selling. Feel confident in your property management decisions and free to contact us for more information or a free estimate.