The document outlines essential preparations for homeowners planning an extended absence, including tasks for securing the home, managing utilities, and ensuring maintenance. It highlights the importance of insurance for vacant versus unoccupied homes, potential coverage issues, and safety measures to minimize risks. Additionally, it covers options for vacation home insurance and potential discounts, while emphasizing the benefits of property management services.

1. Separation Anxiety!
Preparing your Home for a
Long Absence

2. What Could Go Wrong?

3. It’s a
Dry
Heat

4. One to Two Weeks Prior
• Arrange for your mail
• Notify your media providers
• Notify any newspapers when
you will stop delivery and when
to resume.
• See if there are any local
vacation watch programs
offered by either your local
community or your local police
department or contact a
Management Service that can
provide checks on your home.
• Arrange for storage of valuables that
you won't be taking with you for the
summer.
• Coordinate emptying of refrigerator
with trash and recycling pickup.
• Speaking of trash, start trimming
trees and bushes in the yard so you
can have that trash picked up before
you leave.
• Do not drain your hot tub. The heat
will damage it. Turn off the heating
system for the water, but leave the
filtering system on.
• Remove any standing water from the
yard.

5. One to Two Days Prior
• Remove propane tanks and
combustible/flammable chemicals from the
garage.
• Set your irrigation timer appropriately for
summer heat so all your shrubs and trees
aren't dead when you return.
• Consider a management service that will take
care of the weeds, do some trimming, mow the
lawn if you have one and check for irrigation
system problems while you are gone.
• If you have a pool, arrange for a pool service to
handle the maintenance while you are away.
• Arrange for exterior pest control while you are
gone.
• Got houseplants? They probably won't be alive
when you return, so either lend them to a
neighbor or take them with you!
• Remove furniture from patio or yard.
• Replace back-up batteries
• Seal up non-refrigerated products
• If you will be turning the refrigerator off while
you are gone, empty it. Leave the doors open
while you are gone for circulation.
• If you'll be leaving the refrigerator on while you
are gone, toss any foods that will spoil.
• If you have a soft water system or reverse
osmosis water system, determine if any action
is necessary on your part before leaving.
• If you are leaving a car in the garage,
disconnect the battery. You might even want to
cover the vehicle to protect it from dust.
• If you have a golf cart, put water in the battery.

6. Before Locking Up and Leaving
• Unplug the appliances. entertainment units,
computers – everything
• Turn off the air conditioner, or set the
thermostat if you'll be leaving the A/C on. If
you have natural gas, turn off the gas at the
main valve.
• Flush all toilets and run all faucets.
• Turn off the water to the house at the main
valve. Drain any remaining water from the
faucets, long shower head extensions and such.
• Turn off ceiling fans, indoor and out.
• Leave all the interior doors open so the air can
circulate inside the house.
• Close all the blinds and drapes to keep as much
heat out of the house as possible.
• Have candles? Store them in the refrigerator or
put them in the coolest, darkest part of the
house.
• If you use call forwarding on your land line,
now is the time to remember to set it.
• Open the doors to the washer and dryer, the
dishwasher, and any other appliance that
typically seals up.
• Unplug the garage door opener.
• Turn the water heater off.
• Hire someone to stop at the house periodically
to check for leaks inside and out, walk the
house, visit after monsoon activity to check for
storm damage, etc.

7. I saw it
Snow
here…
Once.

8. The Desert is COLD at night!
• Roof problems can result in expensive
repairs if not taken care of from the
start. Either hire a reputable roofer or
grab a ladder and inspect the roof
yourself for loose or worn tiles
• Go outside and take a look at all the
doors and windows on your home.
• Look for dry rot or pest infestation and
if there is any found, take care of it
immediately before it gets worse.
• Start trimming trees and bushes if they
hang too close to your house or
electrical wires.
• It’s a good idea to cap or screen to top
of your fireplace to keep out birds and
other small creatures. Make sure the
damper works properly and take a look
at the bricks to ensure they are in good
condition
• If you have a lawn mower, drain the
gas out of it or run it until it is empty.
• We don’t need much winter
equipment.
– A good rake or shovel,
– A bag of Salt
– An Ice Scraper

9. The Desert is COLD at night!
• It is a good idea to find your water main valve
in case you need to shut it off in the event of an
emergency.
• Make sure any exposed plumbing pipes are
insulated, and if you go on vacation, leave the
heat on around 55 degrees to prevent your
pipes from freezing and bursting.
• If your furnace hasn’t been inspected in a
while, consider calling an HVAC expert to check
it out and clean the ducts.
• Replace furnace filters and make sure there are
no flammable materials near the furnace itself
• Make sure all smoke alarms and carbon
monoxide detectors are working properly and
stock up on extra batteries. Install a carbon
monoxide detector close to your furnace
and/or water heater. Buy a new fire
extinguisher if yours is older than 10 years.
• To close/winterize your pool, either hire a
reputable pool company or do it yourself, but
only if you know how. Closing your pool helps
prevent damage caused by freezing water and
keeps it in good condition for next season.

10. Is my Home Protected?
Vacant
• A vacant home has NO
furniture
Unoccupied
• Unoccupied homes have
furniture and are left as
though the owners may
return at any time.
VS.

11. Is my Home Protected?
Vacant VS. Unoccupied
• Vandalism and glass breakage are not covered at
all. In fact, many policies often exclude any ensuing
loss started by vandalism (i.e., vandals burn the
house down!).
• Most homeowners insurers won't continue to
insure a vacant home.
• There are only a handful of insurers willing to
insure a vacant home.
• Usually, coverage is very limited but the premium is
reasonable, or the coverage is as good as the
homeowners policy but the premium cost is 4-5
times greater.
• You can reduce your chances of having a major loss
from break-ins, fires, smoke damage, and even
water damage from frozen pipes by installing a
central alarm monitored for burglar and fire/smoke
and adding an optional temperature sensor to
protect the pipes from freezing.
• Owners of homes occupied for only part of the
year or people who leave their primary homes for
extended trips may need to pay a surcharge for an
endorsement that provides additional coverage.
• Individual insurance companies vary in the way
they view house sitters. Having a house sitter or
neighbor check on your property may not make a
difference to your insurance company, since the
property is not occupied by the owner.
• On the other hand, some companies view a home
with a house sitter as occupied, so no surcharge
would be applied while the sitter is in residence.
• Another loss reduction strategy is to rent your
home on a month-to-month basis.

12. Is my Home Protected?
Vacation Homes
How Does Vacation Home Insurance Work?
Like standard home insurance, vacation home
insurance protects your home and possessions
against the following perils:
• Storm damage (snow, rain, hail, wind,
tornadoes, etc.)
• Fire
• Lightning
• Burglary
• Vandalism
Vacation home insurance also offers liability
insurance to cover losses stemming from a slip-and-
fall incident, dog bite or other accident
occurring on your property.

13. Is my Home Protected?
Vacation Homes
Things to Consider
Getting vacation home insurance creates unique challenges. If your vacation home
resides in an area with severe weather concerns, you need enough coverage to provide
for those concerns.
For instance:
• Flood insurance is not covered by a standard vacation home insurance policy. A
separate flood insurance policy is required. (Monsoons anyone?)
• In cold weather areas, winter storms can cause major damage in a short period of
time. Winterize your home before departing for an extended period.
• If forest fires are a concern, take steps to fireproof your home. This may be as simple
as clearing vegetation from around the perimeter.
• Earthquake insurance is not covered by a standard vacation home insurance policy
and must be purchased independently.

14. Is my Home Protected?
Vacation Homes
Insurance Discounts
Vacation home insurance may cost more than the policy for your primary residence.
Since you don't live in your vacation home year-round, the unoccupied home is more
susceptible to burglars, and damage caused by storms or thieves may not be noticed for
months, leading to a whole host of other issues.
Discounts:
• Multi-policy discounts for homeowners who bundle their home and auto insurance with
a single insurer.
• Safety discounts for homes with security systems, particularly systems which alert
outside agencies.
• New home discounts for brand-new homes or homes with up-to-date electrical wiring,
HVAC system, plumbing, and overall structure.
• Non-smoking discounts, senior discounts or loyal customer
discounts.

15. Peace of Mind
There are many ways a Property Management company can assist you in making sure
your home is properly taken care of while you are away.
A Property Manager can also help you to save money and even make money on your
investment!
To find out more about how Signature Vacation Rentals can work together with you,
and help you protect and profit from your home investment please take a look at the
informational package in your home preparation bag and give us a call.