Best Practice: Closing A Florida Home 

If you will soon be heading north for the summer, be sure to follow the many proven methods that can help protect 
your home while youÕre away. 

Although one cannot fully protect a house from hurricanes, be sure to take photos or video of both the insideand outside of your home and take important insurance documents with you. These two actions will help with 
any storm related claims should they arise. 

There are, however, safeguards that can prevent a multitude of other problems that are known to occur. Here are 
five important areas that need to be addressed. 

1. DECIDE WHO WILL LOOK AFTER YOUR HOME WHILE YOUÕRE AWAY 
Monitoring and maintaining a home is a big responsibility and can be time consuming should a problem occur. 
Who will you entrust with caring for your home: a family member, a neighbor, a friend, or a company that 
specializes in this service? 
Be sure to expectations in writing from whomever you select. Many friendships and family relationships havebeen strained over issues lesser than what may occur to your home. Choosing a company that specializes inmonitoring and servicing homes will ensure that responsibilities and liabilities are clearly defined. 

Finally, your home should be checked at least once a week. An air conditioner that quits at the height of summer 
could prove disastrous. So, too, could an unattended leak, whether from your own home or the vacant unitabove. 

2. MAKE LISTS 
First, make a list of contact information (names. phone numbers, etc.) of everyone who has keys to your home.
This list should include: homeowner associations, property managers, friends, family, neighbors, and service 
personnel. Are there individuals with keys that donÕt need them? Have you terminated the services of a key 
holder? Perhaps itÕs time to consider updating your homeÕs access security, such as changing locks and codes. 
Second, make a list of all the companies that service your home. These companies include: alarm (donÕt forget 
the code and password); air conditioning; cleaning service; electrician; plumber; pool; lawn maintenance; pestcontrol; and irrigation. Include your handyman, window cleaner, and pressure washing company. 

Then, attach copies of contracts you have with the services to your list. Now, duplicate the package you just 
madeÑcontacts and contracts. YouÕll want to leave one here at your home and take one with you. The package 
you leave behind is for those looking after your home. Should a problem arise, theyÕll have the informationneeded to help resolve the situation. Take a copy with you because youÕll want the contact information at your 
fingertips, if needed. 

One last list you need to document: the settings of your home, including air conditioning and humidistat; lighttimers; sprinkler systems, etc. If your home loses power for an extended period, timers will need to be reset.
DonÕt forget to have timers adjusted with the changing sunrise and sunset times. 

3. TAKE PHOTOS 
Again, take photographs or video of your home and its contents. This will help with any insurance claims, 
should they arise. 

4. PUT YOUR HOME TO SLEEP 
You have someone who will care for your home while youÕre away. All the needed information is at their fingertipsÑ
and yours. All thatÕs left is to close your Florida home and walk away. Here are some important items 
to address. 

Change all batteries and purchase backups where applicable: smoke detectors; thermostat/humidistat; alarm(main and key pads). The availability of additional batteries for the person monitoring your home ensures minimal 
downtime. 

Inspect all plumbing fixtures and address potential issues before you depart. ItÕs easier to prevent a problem 
than it is to repair one when youÕre 1,500 miles away. A professional home watch company will know what to 
look for and should offer to perform the inspection. 

Ensure security of your home. Check all windows and doors for defects. Are the locking mechanisms in good 
order? Are the alarm-monitored entry points working properly? Are you using locking pins on the sliding glass 
doors? 

Electrical issues: Power surges, especially from lightning strikes, are a common occurrence in Southwest 
Florida. The surge can enter your home through phone, electrical, cable, or data lines and destroy electronics. 
One can either unplug everything or contact an electrician about installing a full-home surge protector. Florida 
Power and Light offers their SurgeSheild program: a meter-located protector that, according to FPL, Òprotects 
your homeÕs major motor-driven appliances.Ó 

Refrigerate or not: Whether you chose to leave your refrigerator operating or not, always remove perishables 
and turn off the icemaker. If shutting down the appliance, be sure to clean the unit and prop the doors open to 
prevent mold from forming. 

Climate control: The control of your homeÕs temperature and humidity is a must. Keep in mind that a dark, 
cool, stagnate, and moist environment is prime breeding ground for mold. If your home is not equipped with ahumidistat, consider installing one and set it between 45 and 55 percent. Your thermostat can be set between 80 
and 84. Do not prevent all natural light from entering your home. Allow about 25 percent to filter through your 
window treatments. When it comes to overhead fans, it is not common that they be left on. 

Water Heater: Never turn off water to the water heater when power is off! Just prior to walking out the door on 
departure day, turn off the power to the water heater at the circuit breaker. 

Cleaning: Give your home a good cleaning. This will help to minimize pests, as well as make it easier to open 
your home upon your return. 

Outside The Home: Be sure to secure all lanai and pool furniture. Store items in a garage or a lanai with hurricane 
shutters. YouÕll then need to decide whether or not to install your hurricane shutters on remaining openings. 
If you donÕt do them now, youÕll need someone who will do so in the event of a pending storm. 

5. FINAL STEPS 
Discontinue mail, newspaper and other deliveries. Share your departure date with neighbors and friends -
theyÕll help monitor your home. On the day you leave, donÕt forget to take important documents, such as new 
prescriptions and home insurance information. Turn off the water at the main valve. Turn off all unnecessary 
lightsÑleave one or two connected to timers. Set the alarm. Lock the door. 

If youÕve combined these tips with advice longtime seasonal residents have shared, you can relax and enjoy thecoming months. YouÕve done everything you possibly could to ensure your Southwest Florida home will be a 
sanctuary again next season. 

Additional information on properly closing your Florida home can be found on the website of University ofFlorida at http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/fcs/Pubs/closing.pdf.