Free checklist · Palm Beach County

The Snowbird Home Checklist.

What to check before you close the house for the summer, and what to check when you come back. Check the boxes as you go, or print it.

Print this checklist

01Before you leave

1. Look under every sink.With the water still on. Any drip, stain or soft cabinet floor gets fixed now, not after you've been gone for months.
2. Check the ceilings.A brown stain can mean water is getting in. Rain can make it worse.
3. Check the caulk.Around tubs, showers and windows. Cracked caulk lets water behind the tile.
4. Shut off the main water valve.Turn off the water heater too, or set it to vacation mode. A burst supply line can flood a home that sits empty for months. Check your HOA and insurance rules first.
5. Leave the AC on.Ask your AC company what setting they recommend. Many say around 78 to 82°F. It keeps humidity down, and humidity is what grows mold on drywall while you're gone.
6. Get ready for hurricane season.Shutters or panels ready, patio furniture secured, and someone who can put them up.
7. Unplug TVs, computers and small appliances.Summer storms can cause power surges. Leave the AC and anything you want running, like the fridge, plugged in.
8. Ask someone to check the house.Every week or two. Some insurance policies require it, so check yours.

02When you come back

1. Turn the main water back on slowly.Then look for drips. Let the water heater fill with water before you turn it back on.
2. Walk every room and look up.New stains, bubbles or cracks on the ceilings and walls.
3. Follow your nose.A musty smell in a closet, under a sink or behind the toilet can mean moisture.
4. Run every faucet and flush every toilet.Then look under the sinks for drips.
5. Test the outlets with two small buttons (GFCI).Kitchen, bathrooms, garage and outside. Press TEST and the power should cut off. Press RESET and it should come back. If it won't reset, don't use that outlet and call us.
6. Test the smoke detectors.Replace the batteries if yours take them.
7. Open and close every door and window.Sticking or not locking? Humidity can swell wood.
8. Walk around the outside.Look from the ground for cracked stucco, peeling paint and loose trim. Don't climb onto the roof.