With the winter months in full swing, many “snowbirds” have arrived to their homes in the warmer southern states for the season. Snowbirds being the elders that leave their native harsh winter states and opt into staying in their summer properties. Often times these properties are rented, other times they’re purchased as an investment or as a second home for a more permanent residence post retirement. A healthy balance between maintaining connection with friends and family from the area around their local home and being able to enjoy the warmer weather are accomplished through this living arrangement. Prior to leaving their winter homes behind, though, there’s a lot of preparation for these snowbirds. Throughout this post, a breakdown of how these living situations are established will be provided.
Beginning with preparation required to move, it all starts with winterizing the northern home. Any snowbird planning on taking an extended leave should always suspend live services such as cable or internet while they’re away. The same can be said about their running water as floods and water damage become much more of a risk in homes that aren’t being maintained for long periods of time. The one element of the home that should always remain is the heat. Snowbirds should never turn off the heat for extended periods of time, regardless of how long they’re away. Turning the heat off leaves water pipes liable to freeze in the coldest months.
There are more considerations to be made other than those related to the home of these snowbirds. For example, consider the vehicles or appliances being left behind as well. Anything left in the fridge for extended periods of time will decay and cause serious impact, especially with the fridge unplugged. It’s important to clear out appliances prior to departure for this very reason. It may also be worth leaving the doors of the fridge and freezer open after unplugging them to avoid mildew build up.
Prior to leaving for extended periods of time, snowbirds should always consult a professional for routine maintenance of their heating system. Leaving a home behind for extended periods of time will require a heating system capable of covering the home for the duration of any stay. These professionals will provide valuable insight into the best ways to keep the home well heated and avoid any electrical issues while away.
Snowbirds will also want to take steps with the United States Postal Service to forward mail and any regular deliveries to their winter homes. This is made extremely easy through the USPS website for up to one year for free. Prior to departure, snowbirds will also want to mention their leave with their neighbors. Particularly close neighbors as it’ll become much easier to keep a close eye on the home while they’re away. Sharing information such as a garage code can make all the difference in ensuring there’s nothing shady occurring in the home while the snowbirds are away.
While the preparation may seem like a lot, a place of respite for these snowbirds is worth all the trouble. For more information on how these second homes benefit the elderly, in addition to strategies to simplify the process, take a moment to review the infographic paired alongside this post. Courtesy of Transport Advisers.