Preparation of Unoccupied House? We're moving overseas so our house will be left unoccupied. Will return...
We're moving overseas so our house will be left unoccupied. Will return in the summers for 5-6 weeks. We live contained by a northern midwest state. Trying to get a property manager, but not have much luck. Need some advice as to what to do to prepare the house for unoccupancy.
just be sure the locks are good, send for and stop the paper, have a friend dampen the inside and outside plants. Arrrange for some one to mow the lawn, stop the mail, reward the water and electric bills, and tell the cops you are going out of town,so they wii check things out.
just to include to what jay had said. I would recomend shuting your water bad at the meter to prevent a waterline from breaking espesially if you have an older house. Also buy a thermostate call the watch dog i believe. It will turn a light on if your warmth quites to signal the nieghbors to call you. to prevent waterlines from freezing. You may want to consider allowing a relitive or friend to move in lately to maintain your property One problem is with sewer gas. Sewer gas is prevented from approval up into your house by traps. The traps (U-shaped bends in drain pipe) work by trapping a small quantity of hose down so it blocks the gas from passing back to your home. The problem is, if not a soul uses the drains, the water evaporates and allows sewer gas into your home.
I would close all the drains as resourcefully.
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Answers: I know this drill. Your two biggest challenges will be to prevent sea damage (pipes leaking or burst, roof leak, etc) and to provide security.
Definitely make sure someone get in the house every week, and more often during severe weather. Yes, 5 minutes after the human being leaves a pipe might burst and not be discovered for a week, but it definitely improves the probability of catching problems. The property mgr checking my vacation house spotted a roof dam forming on the roof during a especially snowy period and made arrangements to have it removed in the past it caused a roof leak. My insurance will not honor a pull claim unless I have someone checking on the place regularly--my property mgr keeps a log of visit.
As for other water leaks, here's what This Old House plumber Richard Trethewey have to say:
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/q...
FYI That business about the ice-cube inventor? Take it seriously. It happened to our place a couple years before we bought it and adjectives the flooring downstairs (some tile, some carpet) had to be replaced.
Regarding security, the prop mgr will assistance but you might also notify local police. And your neighbors may notice if anything doesn't seem right. Have the courtyard maintained, too.