Plenty of Seven Mile Island owners close up the house in October, then find themselves back at the shore a few weeks later for Thanksgiving. A long weekend in a quiet Avalon or Stone Harbor house is hard to beat. The catch is that a home already set up for the off-season needs a little planning before you arrive, some care while you are there, and a careful reset before you drive home. Here is a simple plan for all three.
Call Ahead Before You Pack the Car
The most important step happens a week or two before the trip. If your house has already been winterized, the water may be shut off and the lines drained, and the heat may be set low. Trying to bring all of that back online yourself on a Wednesday night is a recipe for leaks and frustration.
- Let whoever closed the house know your arrival and departure dates.
- Ask to have the water turned back on and the fixtures checked before you get there.
- Have the heat raised a day ahead so the house is comfortable when you walk in.
- Schedule the re-winterization for after you leave so the house is protected again before the next cold snap.
If you are a Home Care Program client, one call or a message through your client portal is all it takes to get this on the schedule.
First Hour at the House: A Quick Walk-Through
Before you unload the turkey and the luggage, take a few minutes to walk the house. A home that has been sitting empty can tell you a lot if you know where to look.
- Look under sinks, behind toilets and around the water heater for drips or damp spots once the water is back on.
- Check ceilings, especially on the top floor and under any roof deck, for new stains.
- Make sure the heat is actually running in every zone and listen for any unusual noises from the system.
- Press the test button on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Walk the exterior for anything loosened by recent wind, like flashing, shutters, railings or gutters.
If something looks off, snap a photo and give us a call. It is much easier to deal with a small issue while you are standing in the house than to discover it in the spring.
Hosting a Crowd in an Off-Season House
Holiday weekends put more demand on a house than a typical summer week. The oven runs for hours, every bathroom is in use and guests are coming in and out all day. A few habits help keep the weekend smooth.
- Run the kitchen exhaust fan while you cook to keep moisture and grease out of the house.
- Keep grease and food scraps out of the drains and the disposal, especially if the house sat empty for weeks.
- Make sure guests know where the main water shutoff is, just in case.
- If you light the fireplace, open the damper first and never leave a fire unattended.
- Put down mats at the entry doors so sand and wet leaves stay outside.
Closing Back Up Before You Head Home
The drive home on Sunday is when things get missed. Everyone is tired, the car is packed and it is tempting to lock the door and go. Build in twenty minutes for a proper close-up.
- Empty the refrigerator of perishables and take out all trash and recycling.
- Make sure the fireplace is fully out and the damper is closed once it is cold.
- Return the thermostat to the off-season setting you were using before the visit.
- Lock every door and window, including sliders and the garage.
- Confirm the re-winterization appointment so the plumbing is protected again.
Let Someone Keep Watch After You Leave
Once the holiday is over, the house goes back to sitting quiet through December, January and February. That is when regular visits matter most. Our Essentials plan includes a monthly winter watch, plumbing winterization and spring opening, while the Elite plan adds bi-weekly winter watch and two post-storm inspections. Either way, you get updates and photos through the client portal, so you are not left wondering how the house is doing.
Planning a holiday visit and want the house ready when you arrive? Learn more about our Home Care Program or call Avalon Construction & Property Management at (609) 741-6996. We are happy to get the water on, the heat up and the house closed back up so you can focus on the weekend.