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Condo Closing Tips for Summer

Many of our snowbird residents start to think about heading back to various points of origin in late March or April, so we're offering some helpful tips on closing up your condo for the season. We want you to have an enjoyable time back wherever you are from and to not worry about your home here. By following these recommendations, you will hopefully come back to a worry-free stay here next year. Most of these tips are common sense, but are worth repeating.
  • Dispose of any food that may spoil by placing in a plastic bag, then place in wheelie trash bin in the garage. If you are not going to be here for the next trash pickup, try coordinating with a neighbor to put your trash in his or her bin for pickup.
  • Oil-based food products that won’t generally spoil (olive oil, Crisco, etc.) should be placed in the refrigerator to help preserve them.

  • Bring any patio furniture or other decorations into your condo so they don’t get damaged in the summer monsoons.

  • Close and lock all windows and doors and close all blinds or shutters. This will help keep out the summer heat.

  • Set your thermostat to 85 degrees or higher while you are not here. No sense cooling the condo to the mid-70s when you aren’t here. Save your money!

  • Change our your smoke alarm batteries, especially if you can't remember when you changed them out last. You don't want an alarm to start beeping and disturbing your neighbors while you're in another state and won't be back for months! Better yet - change out your smoke detectors for new ones having a 10-year lithium battery (especially if yours are 9-10 years old) so you don't have to worry about it in the future.

  • Turn your water heater to Vacation/Pilot/Off mode so you are not spending money heating water you won’t use.

  • Turn OFF the main water supply valve in your condo (usually located in the garage) when you leave to prevent any accidental water damage if something leaks or breaks.

  • Consider setting out four or five 5-gallon buckets, each about half-full of water, each in a different room, to help maintain interior humidity over the summer while you are gone. Buckets can be purchased inexpensively at Ace or Home Depot.

  • Unplug any non-essential light fixtures or other electronics, as they still draw power even when they are off. It will help keep your power bill low while you are gone.

  • DO NOT unplug or otherwise turn off your Internet modem, especially if you have a wireless thermostat that you control through your phone or computer. If you unplug the modem, you won’t be able to communicate with the thermostat.

  • Submit a temporary Change of Address with the Post Office at USPS.com to forward any mail you receive while you are back home.

  • and finally, consider hiring a "home watch" company to check on your condo periodically while you are gone. They will run water, flush toilets, etc., and make sure everything is OK and in working order. It's money well spent.

Have a great time back wherever you are from! We’ll be here - in Paradise - waiting for your return in the Fall. Have a great Summer!