Going away for a bit?

You likely can shut the door and leave your condo for a month or so without doing anything and be 99.9% sure there will be no problem. To be even more sure, and to save some money, you might consider the following:

• Set thermostat.
• Adjust shades and blinds.
• Turn off water to sinks.
• Turn off icemaker and discard ice.
• Turn off water at toilets. (Quarter-turn valves are a nice upgrade.)
• Turn off water to washer. (Good luck in trying to reach the valves.)
• Add Clorox bleach to toilets and cover the bowl with Saran wrap.
• Remove and discard perishable food from refrigerator, pantry, and counters.
• Leave name and phone number of an emergency contact on the kitchen counter.
• Open shower and tub enclosures, dishwasher, and closet doors for air circulation.
• Unplug stereo, toaster, coffee maker, television/cable, etcetera.
• Cancel newspapers and re-route mail. See USPS on line.
• Remove or secure balcony furniture.
• Empty trash and recycling containers.

Most folks will opt to NOT turn off their gas, water, or electric service.

If you are not driving: Leave car keys on the kitchen counter. If you will be away for more than a month, you should consider disconnecting the negative terminal at the battery. Alternatively, you could have an emergency-start battery, jumper cables, or an AAA membership.

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YFiRE
Your Friend in Real Estate, LLC
Arlington, Virginia, USA