je_whatever
New member
Posts: 44
|
 |
« on: August 20, 2010, 10:16:52 AM » |
|
Hi All,
Spouse and I are going on sabbatical. We have a renter for part but not all of the year and a housesitter for the part of the year with no renter (she'll drop by once a week or so). It's a condo -- 3 floor building, we're on the 2nd. For those of you who went away, a few questions:
--we have a sort of "open" closet area and are trying to figure out how to prevent the clothes we left behind from getting covered in dust (stuff that's hanging up and stacked sweaters, etc). Any suggestions?
--for the time the place is unoccupied, is it better to leave the fridge on or off? In terms of it not being nasty for someone who shows up?
--any other tips for abandoning your place for a little while? We've done month-long trips but nothing like this.
We've got all the mail forwarding and that kind of stuff set up (and a security system!), and will leave plenty of space for our renter's clothes and personal effects.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
spork
|
|
« Reply #1 on: August 20, 2010, 01:11:53 PM » |
|
- dry cleaning bags, trash bags, or put them all giant ziploc bags (or just boxes)
- yes, but you will have to make sure the last person to use it removes all food, cleans it, and leaves the doors propped open. If the door is shut and the power is off, you will have a permanently stinky fridge.
- for an empty 2nd floor condo, you can set the thermostat to 55 in the winter and 85 in the summer to save on heating and cooling bills. Do you have a separate water heater? That can be switched off as well.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
a.k.a. gum-chewing monkey in a Tufts University jacket
"Please do not force people who are exhausted to take medication for hallucinations." -- Memo from the Chair, Department of White Privilege Studies, Fiork University
|
|
|
|
anon99
|
|
« Reply #2 on: August 20, 2010, 07:43:15 PM » |
|
for the clothes, hang a sheet over the clothes. It will allow air to circulate so things dont' get moldy and it is probably something you have hanging around.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
je_whatever
New member
Posts: 44
|
|
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2010, 12:29:08 PM » |
|
The sheet idea is brilliant. Thank you! And thanks for the other tips, too. Keep 'em coming.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
prytania3
|
|
« Reply #4 on: August 24, 2010, 07:05:53 AM » |
|
Leave the refrigerator on. Turning it off is courting disaster. Too many people in the mix.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
|
|
|
|
dundee
|
|
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2010, 08:16:34 AM » |
|
Have you made arrangements to pay all your utilities bills, etc. online or automatically? If so, check periodically to make sure that they are actually being paid. We go away for at least a month every year and invariably there is some kind of problem with one of the automatic payments.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"Dublin, Dundee, Humberside ..."
|
|
|
|
prytania3
|
|
« Reply #6 on: August 24, 2010, 08:19:18 AM » |
|
Have you made arrangements to pay all your utilities bills, etc. online or automatically? If so, check periodically to make sure that they are actually being paid. We go away for at least a month every year and invariably there is some kind of problem with one of the automatic payments.
To add, since this is a short rental, you might want to include the electricity in the rent. That way, you don't have to worry about it being turned off. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Clowns, I tell you. Clowns.
|
|
|
|
fast_and_bulbous
|
|
« Reply #7 on: August 24, 2010, 11:08:52 AM » |
|
I'm going to be gone for eight months during Michigan winter.
I am emptying the fridge during this time, turning it off and propping the doors wide open.
Haven't decided about the hot water heater yet, I may drain it if that is prudent. I will certainly turn off the valve which feeds it so that should it pop a leak, it will just drain. Since I have hot water heat, which does tie into the plumbing, I can't turn the cold water off. When I travel during the summer, I turn off the main cold water valve.
The biggest potential disaster with leaving your house unoccupied for long lengths of time involves water. I'd turn off as many valves as you can get away with, including the washing machine. I've heard too many stories of burst water heaters or washing machine pipes (from real people, not just internet lore) causing sometimes tens of thousands of dollars of damage.
One thing you may want to consider if you are keeping your internet service running is installing some internet webcams. I am installing four. They run software that can send you an email if it detects motion (even email an image to you, neat stuff). One webcam will monitor the utility room, others will mostly point outside to make sure papers aren't piling up, the driveway is being plowed, and water isn't leaking into the house. I will also be monitoring internal temperature via a weather station module which, in addition to monitoring weather outside, monitors temperature inside.
I do have a friend who will be stopping by periodically. This is crucial, IMO. Hm, I still have to find someone to clear out the gutters after the leaves fall, putting that on the list now....
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
