Snowbird Home Closing Checklist: How to Prepare Your Northern Home Before Heading South
Heading south for the winter is something many northern homeowners look forward to all year. But before you trade snow boots for sandals, there is one important task to take care of: preparing your northern home for an extended winter absence.
Leaving a northern home unoccupied for several weeks or months is different from simply leaving for a vacation. Cold temperatures, frozen pipes, furnace problems, power outages, snow and ice, water damage, security concerns and unexpected maintenance issues can all become problems when no one is home to notice them.
A thorough snowbird home closing checklist can help you prepare your house before you leave and give you greater peace of mind while you are away.
If you live in Minnesota or another northern climate and spend the winter somewhere warmer, this guide will walk you through the most important things to consider before closing up your home for the season.
What should you do before leaving your northern home for the winter?
Before heading south, your preparation should cover several major areas of your home:
Heating and plumbing
Water and freeze protection
Electrical systems and appliances
Security
Mail, packages and deliveries
Outdoor areas
Insurance and emergency information
Home access and someone who can check on the property
A final walkthrough before departure
The goal is not simply to lock the door and leave. The goal is to leave your home in a condition that is prepared for the months ahead.
1. Prepare your heating system
In a northern climate, your heating system is one of the most important systems to address before you leave.
Make sure your furnace or heating system is operating properly before departure. If your furnace has been making unusual noises, cycling differently or struggling to maintain temperature, have the issue addressed before you leave.
Before heading south, consider:
Changing the furnace filter
Scheduling any needed furnace maintenance
Confirming the thermostat is working properly
Setting an appropriate temperature for an unoccupied home
Confirming any low temperature alerts are functioning
Making sure someone can respond if the heating system fails
Opening interior doors where appropriate to allow warm air to circulate
Your exact thermostat setting and winterization plan should be appropriate for your home and heating system. Always follow your heating system manufacturer's recommendations and any requirements from your insurance company.
2. Protect your plumbing from freezing
Frozen pipes are one of the biggest concerns when leaving a northern home unoccupied during winter.
A small plumbing failure can become a major problem when nobody is home to notice it. Depending on your home's plumbing system, you may need to shut off the main water supply, drain portions of the plumbing system or take other winterization steps.
Before leaving, know:
Where your main water shutoff is located
Whether your water should be shut off
Whether your plumbing system needs to be drained
Whether your water heater requires a specific setting
Whether outdoor faucets have been shut off and drained
Whether your washing machine supply lines should be turned off
Whether your refrigerator ice maker and other water connections need attention
There is no single water shutoff procedure that is appropriate for every home. Homes with different heating systems, fire sprinklers, boilers or other specialized systems may require professional guidance.
If you are unsure, ask a qualified plumber or other appropriate professional before making changes.
3. Check your sump pump and basement
Your basement deserves special attention before leaving for an extended period.
Check your sump pump and make sure it is operating properly. If your home has a backup sump pump, battery backup or other water protection system, confirm that it is ready to operate if needed.
Also consider:
Checking the sump pump discharge
Testing backup systems
Checking for existing moisture
Looking for plumbing leaks
Making sure floor drains are clear
Checking around water heaters and mechanical equipment
Confirming temperature monitoring if you use it
A smart water sensor or temperature monitor can provide an additional layer of awareness, but technology should not be considered a replacement for someone physically checking the home.
4. Prepare your appliances and interior spaces
Your final week before departure is a good time to work through the house room by room.
Depending on your home and your plans, consider:
Emptying perishable food
Cleaning out the refrigerator
Taking out all garbage and recycling
Running and properly preparing the dishwasher
Leaving the washing machine door open if appropriate
Unplugging selected electronics and small appliances
Checking toilets and sinks for leaks
Closing or opening cabinets as appropriate for your winterization plan
Removing anything that could attract pests
Checking windows and doors
This is also a good opportunity to take care of small maintenance items you have been putting off.
That dripping faucet or loose door latch may seem minor when you are home. It is much more difficult to deal with when you are 1,500 miles away.
5. Make your home look occupied
An unoccupied home can be more vulnerable to theft or other problems if it appears that nobody is around.
Before leaving:
Arrange for mail to be held or forwarded
Stop newspaper delivery if applicable
Arrange for packages to be managed
Put lights on timers when appropriate
Make sure exterior lighting works
Secure doors and windows
Avoid leaving valuables visible
Arrange for snow removal
Keep your driveway and walkways maintained as appropriate
You do not want several months of mail, packages or an untouched driveway advertising that your home is unoccupied.
6. Prepare your home for snow and ice
Northern winters bring another set of concerns that are easy to overlook when you are sitting in a warm destination.
Before leaving, think about:
Snow removal
Ice dam prevention
Roof and gutter concerns
Exterior lighting
Trees and branches near the home
Outdoor furniture
Hose connections
Garage doors
Walkways and entrances
Some maintenance should be completed before winter arrives rather than after you have already left.
This is one reason a northern home winter checklist is helpful. It allows you to work through seasonal maintenance before departure instead of trying to remember everything during the hectic final days before leaving.
7. Review your homeowners insurance
This is one of the most important steps in your snowbird departure checklist.
Your homeowners insurance policy may have specific requirements related to an unoccupied or seasonally unoccupied home. Requirements can vary by policy and insurance company.
Before leaving, contact your insurance agent and ask:
Does my policy have requirements when my home is unoccupied?
How often does someone need to check the home?
Are there specific temperature requirements?
Are there water shutoff requirements?
Do you require documentation of home checks?
Is there anything else I need to do before leaving for the season?
Do not assume that the same rules apply to every home or insurance policy.
Your insurance agent can tell you what is required for your specific situation.
8. Decide who will check your home while you are away
This is the step that is often overlooked.
Preparing your house properly before departure is important, but preparation cannot prevent every problem.
A furnace can fail.
A pipe can leak.
A sump pump can stop working.
A storm can damage the property.
A tree can fall.
A refrigerator can stop working.
A smart thermostat can send you an alert, but someone still needs to physically go to the house and determine what is happening.
That is why many snowbirds arrange for regular home watch checks while they are away.
A professional Home Watch provider can physically visit the property, look for visible signs of problems and provide documentation of what was observed during the visit.
For homeowners who spend several months away from their northern home, this provides an additional layer of protection between the departure date and the day they return.
9. Create a home information sheet
Before you leave, make sure the person responsible for your home has the information they would need in an emergency.
Consider documenting:
Main water shutoff location
Electrical panel location
Furnace information
Water heater information
Thermostat instructions
Alarm information
Emergency contacts
Insurance contact information
Preferred plumbers and HVAC companies
Snow removal provider
Neighbor contact information
Keyholder information
Instructions for pets, plants or other property needs
This information is especially valuable when something unexpected happens and you are hundreds or thousands of miles away.
10. Complete a final walkthrough
Do not make your final home walkthrough a rushed trip through the house while the car is waiting in the driveway.
Give yourself enough time to systematically work through the property.
Walk through each room.
Check the basement.
Check the garage.
Walk around the exterior.
Review your water and heating plan.
Check your appliances.
Confirm your security system.
Check your windows and doors.
Review your mail and snow removal arrangements.
Then go back through your checklist one final time.
The goal is simple:
Leave knowing that you did not forget something important.
A snowbird home closing checklist should be more than a list of chores
One of the biggest challenges with preparing a northern home for an extended winter absence is that there are so many small details.
It is easy to remember the big things, such as turning down the thermostat and stopping the mail, while forgetting smaller items that can create problems later.
A good snowbird departure checklist gives you a repeatable process you can use every year.
It also helps you separate tasks that should happen several weeks before departure from tasks that need to happen during the final week and tasks that should be completed on departure day.
Want a complete northern home closing checklist?
If you are heading south for the winter and do not want to rely on a collection of notes, browser searches and remembered tasks, I created a more comprehensive resource specifically for northern homeowners.
Snowbird Northern Home Departure Checklist & Winter Protection Guide
This 20 plus page digital guide walks you through preparing your northern home before an extended winter absence.
It includes:
A departure timeline beginning months before you leave
Home closing checklists
Winter protection tasks
Heating and plumbing considerations
Security and mail planning
Service provider information
Emergency contacts
Home specific notes
Seasonal maintenance reminders
Home reference worksheets
Departure day reminders
It is designed to be printed and used year after year, so you do not have to reinvent your home closing routine every fall.
The Snowbird Northern Home Departure Checklist & Winter Protection Guide is $29 and available as an instant digital download.
[Get the Snowbird Northern Home Departure Checklist & Winter Protection Guide]
Whether this is your first winter as a snowbird or you have been heading south for years, having a written plan can make the process easier and help you leave your northern home with greater confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Closing a Northern Home for Winter
What is a snowbird home closing checklist?
A snowbird home closing checklist is a detailed list of tasks to complete before leaving a northern home unoccupied for an extended period during the winter. It typically covers heating, plumbing, water, security, mail, appliances, outdoor maintenance, insurance and emergency planning.
What should I do before leaving my house for the winter?
Before leaving your home for the winter, prepare your heating and plumbing systems, protect the home from freezing temperatures, secure doors and windows, manage mail and deliveries, arrange snow removal, review insurance requirements and arrange for someone to check the property while you are away.
Should I turn off the water before leaving for the winter?
Whether you should turn off your home's water depends on your plumbing, heating and other systems. Some homes can safely have the main water supply shut off and plumbing drained, while others require a different approach. Check your insurance requirements and consult a qualified professional if you are unsure.
What temperature should I leave my house at when I go south for the winter?
There is not one temperature that is appropriate for every home. Your heating system, plumbing, insulation, location and insurance requirements should all be considered. Follow your insurance company's requirements and your heating system manufacturer's recommendations.
Do I need someone to check my house while I am gone?
Regular physical home checks are an important consideration when leaving a northern home unoccupied for months. A person physically visiting the home can notice issues that a smart thermostat, security camera or other remote monitoring device may not detect.
How often should someone check my northern home while I am away?
The appropriate frequency depends on your home, systems, insurance requirements and individual circumstances. Your insurance company can tell you whether your policy has specific requirements. Many snowbirds arrange regular professional Home Watch visits throughout the season.
What is the difference between a snowbird checklist and Home Watch?
A snowbird checklist helps the homeowner prepare the property before leaving. Home Watch is the ongoing service of physically checking an unoccupied home while the homeowner is away. They work together. A thorough departure checklist helps prepare the house, while regular Home Watch checks help identify visible problems during the absence.
Prepare once. Check twice. Leave with confidence.
Heading south for the winter should be exciting. A little preparation before you leave can help you avoid unnecessary stress while you are away.
Start your northern home closing checklist early, work through it systematically and arrange for someone you trust to keep an eye on your home while you are gone.
And if you want the entire process organized in one place, the Snowbird Northern Home Departure Checklist & Winter Protection Guide was created specifically to help you do exactly that.
