How to Leave Your Home for the Season Without Worry

How to Leave Your Home for the Season Without Worry

You've earned this. The flights are booked, the reservation is made, and you're ready for three months of warm weather. But somewhere between packing and boarding, there's that familiar knot in your stomach: Did I turn off the water? Is the garage door closed? What if something happens while I'm gone?

This guide covers everything you need to do before you lock the door — and introduces a living situation where most of this list disappears entirely.

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1. Home Security & Safety

Before you leave:

• Lock all doors and windows
• Set your alarm system and notify your monitoring company of your travel dates
• Leave a key with a trusted neighbor or your building management
• Set interior lights on timers (a randomized schedule looks more natural than a fixed pattern)
• Unplug non-essential electronics to reduce fire risk and phantom power draw
• Turn your water heater to vacation mode or minimum setting
• Shut off the main water supply if no one is checking in regularly
• Set your thermostat to a minimum of 55°F to prevent pipe freeze during Minnesota winters
• Notify your local police non-emergency line of your extended absence

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2. Mail, Packages & Communications

• Set a USPS mail hold or forward at usps.com
• Notify regular delivery services (Amazon, prescription deliveries, newspapers)
• Pause or forward any subscription boxes
• Update billing address for time-sensitive statements
• Set an email auto-reply if needed
• Confirm your cell plan works at your destination (check international coverage if applicable)

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3. Finances & Bills

• Set up autopay for your mortgage, utilities, and HOA or co-op fee
• Notify your bank and credit cards of your travel destination and dates
• Confirm sufficient funds in accounts to cover all auto-payments
• Download banking apps for mobile access
• Scan and store copies of important documents in cloud storage or email

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4. Vehicle & Property

• Arrange snow removal and lawn care service
• Arrange for someone to check on the property every two weeks
• Store your vehicle properly or arrange airport parking
• Leave emergency contact information with a neighbor
• Document the current condition of your home with photos before leaving

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5. Health & Prescriptions

• Fill all prescriptions for the full travel period plus a two-week buffer
• Notify your doctors of your travel dates and destination
• Confirm your health insurance coverage at your destination
• Pack an emergency medical information card

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6. If You Live in a Senior Cooperative

Here's the difference: most of this checklist is handled for you.

Co-op residents simply:

• Notify the management office of your travel dates
• Confirm package acceptance arrangements with the front desk
• Confirm your monthly fee is on autopay
• Leave emergency contact information with management

That's it. Lock the door and go.

The cooperative's management team handles building security, exterior maintenance, and property monitoring year-round. There's no lawn to arrange, no pipes to worry about (the building's systems are professionally maintained), and no neighbor to impose on.

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The Bigger Picture

Senior Cooperative living means this checklist gets shorter every year — until it's just one step: lock the door.

If you're spending months away from home each year and still dealing with the full homeowner's checklist every time you leave, it may be worth exploring what cooperative living looks like. Browse Minnesota communities to see what's available.