Need Advice: How to Prepare House to Sit Idle for Seven Months (West Palm Beach: to rent, condo)

TropicalDCGuy · 03-09-2009, 01:53 PM

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site. I did a search to see if anyone has asked this question and I don't think anyone has. Apologies if I missed it.

Also I just posted this question in the Sarasota forum but realized I should've posted it for all of Florida.

I live in DC but bought a house in Venice a few weeks ago, mainly for my elderly parents to use in the winter. The place will probably be empty for about 6 or 7 months out of the year, and I don't want to rent it out during those months. I also don't know anyone in Venice, so I can't have someone stop by to check on the place or go inside. I don't want to hire a maintenace company because I can't afford it, there's not much of anything to maintain (no lawn, no renters), and I've read too many horror stories about them.

I'm wondering what types of things I need to do to make sure it's self-contained and okay when no one is there. Fortunately, it doesn't have a lawn (it's all rocks) so I don't have to worry about landscaping. I already know that I need to:

-- Program the electronic thermostat to run the air conditioning at 82 and keep the ceiling fans going.
-- Turn off the water heater.
-- Pull the blinds to keep it dark and cool inside.
-- Make sure there is no food or anything to attract crawly things.
-- Have a lamp on a timer go on at night.

Am I missing anything?

I haven't met my neighbors yet, but I'm hoping they'll volunteer to keep an eye on the place and tell me if it blows away in a storm.

Anyone else in this situation? Any suggestions or advice from other people who leave homes unoccupied over the summer months will be greatly appreciated. I'm feeling pretty nervous.

Thanks!

ngrome · 03-09-2009, 02:18 PM

Here's my reply in your other post:

https://www.city-data.com/forum/7805568-post4.html

doggiebus · 03-09-2009, 02:20 PM

Even with an all rock yard, you can and probably will get weeds. So you probably need someone to spray it every month or two, especially during rainy season (June-November) when you probably will be gone.

If I were you I would just turn the a/c off, maybe I am wrong. What are you going to do if a hurricane comes? Have you hired a company to close/put up the hurricane shutters? Or are you just going to do nothing?

TANaples · 03-09-2009, 02:31 PM

We shut the air off in our condo. Yes, it is going to get hot, but it's not like shutting off heat and having pipes freeze. We also shut off the fridge. Watch the ice melt with that one. We still live about 10 miles away so we go to the condo regularly when we aren't renting it.

My sister-in-law has a house here and only comes down a few times a year. She has done all of the above also. She has a landscaper come to cut her grass and spray it. She gave a key to her neighbor and he checks in on it every once in a while to make sure everything is ok. He has her phone number and can call her if there are any problems.

Retiredcoach · 03-09-2009, 02:47 PM

Am I wrong, but won't mold develop if the AC is turned of during those hot, humid months?

doggiebus · 03-09-2009, 02:51 PM

If there is no leaks, there shouldn't be any water for the mold to grow. We turn the a/c off when we leave our weekend home.

TANaples · 03-09-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retiredcoach

Am I wrong, but won't mold develop if the AC is turned of during those hot, humid months?

We check on it and there isn't any mold. My husband has two windows opened a bit and it is on the top floor of the condo. We haven't had the air on inside our house either in months. It's been a fairly cool winter with temps only occasionally getting to 80 and 40s and 50s at night. Actually, we have had the heat (nights) on more than the AC lately. It's probably too cool, yet, for mold to grow. If nobody is renting in the summer, we will probably it put back on a little.

TriMT7 · 03-09-2009, 03:42 PM

Check to see if your city has a "watch my house" program. In West Palm Beach, you can put your house on a list for special patrol when you are out of town (even for a short while), and the cops will come by periodically to check things out.

**NoodLes** · 03-09-2009, 04:35 PM

Make sure to keep your refrigerator open and leave an open box of arm and hammer baking soda in the freezer and fridge part. Put a towel or something to prevent the fridge doors from closing. This will prevent a smelly fridge and mold from forming. Same with microwave.

TANaples · 03-09-2009, 04:43 PM

Did that with the fridge, but didn't think of it for the microwave. I will have to remember that. Thanks.