Closing Down Your Vacation Home

For many of us, the Labor Day weekend brings an end to those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. The last burger has been grilled and bathing suits and flip-flops have been put away. The stack of books waiting to be read has dwindled and it is time to close up the family vacation home or cabin until the next visit.

How tightly you button up your holiday home will depend on how often you visit it, the climate, and whether you have someone looking in on it periodically (friends, family, property manager?). Regardless of whether your place will be empty for a few weeks or a few months, if you do a few things before you leave, you will feel welcome when you return.

Inside:

• Wash the dishes and empty the dishwasher.
• Do the laundry and remake the beds with fresh linens.
• Vacuum and mop floors.
• Dust all hard surfaces.
• Adjust furnace and AC settings.
• Unplug unused appliances.
• Empty the fridge and cupboards of perishables.

Outside:

• Put away hammock and outside furniture.
• Clean the BBQ grill.
• Be sure faucets are off and garden hoses drained and coiled.
• Arrange for snow removal, lawn mowing, and pool maintenance (as necessary).

Lastly:

• Consider shutting off water and draining lines if your place is in a cold climate.
• Draw the shades.
• Set timers for lights to go on and off to give your place a lived in look.
• Secure all doors and windows.
• Set the alarm.

When you get home and back into the routine of school and work, you’ll rest easy knowing that your home-away-from-home is waiting for your next visit.

Image: Zazzle.