For some March Madness is all about printing out your brackets, studying your seeds, and making bets on which college basketball teams will make it to the Elite Eight or the Final Four, but for some teams – or rather flocks — of snowbirds, it’s more about preparing to fly (or crawl up 75) to the north. Either way, it’s normal to go a little mad with March Madness as you try to soak in the last week or so of Southwest Florida before Easter, catch some basketball on TV, and yet also work to get your home prepared for a long summer away.
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March Madness of Closing up Your Florida Home
Ideally, a Fairy Godmother would whisk in and take care of it all while you lounge by the pool, a margarita in one hand, and your cell phone in the other as you describe the idyllic 85 degree weather to friends up north who are recovering from yet another fresh spring snow. Not to worry – by the time you get back up to the northern climes, the ice will have thawed, and there will be blooms on the trees. Meanwhile, since your Fairy Godmother still hasn’t shown up – it’s time to start the closing of your tropical home away from home. And while Home-Tech can help, here are a few things you can do on your own:
- Summer humidity in Southwest Florida makes a steam bath look refreshing, so make sure every room in your home is sparkling clean so that mildew and pesky Florida insects don’t feel welcome.
- Moisture is huge factor down here from May through September so close up your home tightly to keep it protected – that means every window and every door. You can also seal toilet bowls and tanks with plastic wrap; make sure kitchen, bath, and shower drains are plugged. If you have hurricane shutters, use them.
- There’s no reason to leave food in the house except unopened canned goods. If you have flour, sugar, coffee, etc. seal it all well with Ziploc bags and store them in the refrigerator if you choose to leave it running.
What About Air Conditioning and Appliances?
You can not shut off your AC and go. You will return to a complete disaster of mold in your home. Air conditioning is a great defense against moisture damage, so if you haven’t called Home-Tech to schedule your clean and check make sure you do. Watch these two videos from Home-Tech for additional tips for setting your thermostat and humidistat and how to leave the appliances in your Florida home.
It’s a Slam Dunk
It’s all about peace of mind. With Home-Tech, there is no madness in March — you don’t have to worry about your Southwest Florida home when you’re at your northern home sipping a margarita on the porch, enjoying a breeze, and feeling tempted to call your Florida friends who are boiling in July. After all, the grass is always greener.