TIPS FOR MAINTAINING YOUR HOME WHILE YOU'RE AWAY

• The most important thing to remember if your home is located in Florida is to control indoor humidity while home or away.  Leave your air conditioning on no more than 80 degrees and set your humidistat in the range of 55% humidity.  This should prevent the villan, mold, from growing in your little slice of paradise .   

• If you have a computer, you have to set access with an encrypted password or have a removable hard drive.  Records on any computer have to be secure from unwanted access.  Best solution is to have a removable hard drive. 

• Secure all windows and doors including garage doors.  Patio doors on the first floor should have a lock on them.  Front and rear doors should be dead bolted.  If either door has a glass window the indoor lock should be controlled by a key lock.  Remember the door is only as good as the door frame.  This is the weakest point. You can also put a wooden doweling in the track of the sliding door to secure outside entry.

• Always shut off your main water supply to prevent water damage to your residence if a leak should occur.  When you shut off your water, you need to corespondingly shut off the water heater to prevent it from overheating and to conserve energy. Some homeowners must leave their water on for radiant heating.  In that case shut the water valve off to your washer.  This should prevent your water supply hoses from bursting while your away.

• Remove any food from your cabinets to prevent bugs from entering your home in search of a free meal.  Do not  leave sugar in your residence or ants will be there when you return.  You can put it in the refrigerator so you are ready to sweeten a cup of coffee upon your return. 

• You should always have a contact person you can call to check your residence if an emergency arises.
  

• You need contractors names and numbers for any repairs that need to be made in an emergency. Your air conditioning man is the most important. Keep him on speed dial or on an annual contract.

• You can get a computerized thermostat along with an I-Phone app and control your heating, cooling and humidity  from a remote location.   

• If you have a home up north and leaving for the winter leave your heat on 55-60 degrees to prevent pipes from freezing.
•  I would suggest is to set some indoor lights on timers.  This should give the impression that somone is home.
• Place a security alarm sticker in your window or on your front door.  This could be enough to deter criminals.
  
• Your home is a big investment, but with just a bit of planning you can protect it and keep peace in paradise.