Closing Your Martin County Home for the Summer: The Checklist

We check empty homes across Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound and the rest of Martin County every summer. This is the list we'd use on our own house. Print it, or get the one-page version by email.

2–4 weeks before you leave

• Call your insurance agent. Ask about vacancy rules, which often kick in after 30–60 consecutive days (Triple-I), and confirm your hurricane deductible.
• Have the A/C serviced and the condensate drain line cleared
• Schedule pest control and lawn and pool service for the summer
• Arrange shutters or impact-window checks, and decide who will put shutters up if a storm threatens
• Line up your home watch: a plan, or at least a $75 visit after storms
• Tell your HOA or gate who's authorized to enter

Water

• Shut off the main water valve (unless irrigation or a fire system needs it; if so, shut off the supply to the house side)
• Turn the water heater off at the breaker once the water is off
• Turn off the ice maker and leave the dishwasher and washer doors cracked open
• Put leak sensors at the water heater, A/C air handler and the oldest sink

A/C and humidity

• Leave the A/C on. Many owners pick a setting in the upper 70s to low 80s. The EPA recommends indoor humidity below 60% (EPA), so if your thermostat has a humidity setting, use it.
• Put in a fresh filter
• Leave interior doors, closets and cabinet doors open so air moves
• Put a temperature/humidity sensor in a central room so you'll know if the A/C quits

Hurricane prep (season runs June 1 – Nov 30)

• Bring in or tie down patio furniture, planters, grills and anything that can fly
• Take date-stamped photos and video of every room and the exterior for your insurance baseline
• Sign up for AlertMartin, Martin County's free emergency alerts
• Know your evacuation zone and bookmark the National Hurricane Center
• Decide who checks the house after a storm, and how fast. See hurricane home watch.

Kitchen, mail and security

• Empty the fridge or leave it running with an open box of baking soda; take out all trash
• Hold or forward mail (USPS Hold Mail is free for up to 30 days, USPS); forward for longer
• Unplug electronics and small appliances
• Put a couple of lamps on timers, and lock every window, slider and door
• Leave a key and alarm code with your home watcher

The day you leave

• Walk every room one last time: faucets off, toilets not running, nothing on the stove
• Check the thermostat setting
• Lock up, set the alarm, and send a "we're gone" text to your home watcher

Rather not do the list yourself? Book a $199 close-up visit and we handle the hands-on closing tasks after you leave, with a photo report.

Who'll check on it all summer?

We cover Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Sewall's Point, Hobe Sound, Port Salerno, Hutchinson Island, Jupiter Island and Indiantown.

Plan	Price	What you get	Start online
One-Time Visit	$75 once	Full interior + exterior check with a photo report. Good before/after a storm or as a first visit.	Book — $75
Basic	$89/mo or $890/yr	2 visits a month (exterior), photo report every visit, storm alerts.	Monthly Annual
Standard	$149/mo or $1,490/yr	Weekly interior + exterior visits, pre- and post-storm visits, vendor coordination.	Monthly Annual
Premium	$249/mo or $2,490/yr	Everything in Standard plus unlimited on-call visits, 24/7 storm emergency response and arrival prep.	Monthly Annual
Seasonal Open-Up	$199 once	We get the home ready 1–2 days before you arrive: water on, A/C set, patio furniture out, full walk-through and photo report. Details	Book — $199
Open-Up + Close-Up	$349 pair	We close the home when you leave and open it before you come back. Saves $49 over booking them separately.	Book — $349

🔒 Secure checkout by Stripe · Annual billing = 2 months free · No contracts · Prefer to talk first? Request a free walkthrough.

Frequently asked questions

Should I leave the A/C on in my Florida home over the summer?

Yes. Leaving the A/C running keeps humidity down. The EPA recommends indoor humidity below 60% to help prevent mold. Many owners choose a setting in the upper 70s to low 80s.

Should I turn off the water when closing my Florida home?

In most homes, yes. Shut off the main valve and turn the water heater off at the breaker. If irrigation or a fire system needs water, shut off only the supply to the house side.

When is hurricane season in Martin County?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, which overlaps almost exactly with when most snowbirds are away.

How often should someone check my home while I'm away for the summer?

Check your insurance policy first. For most empty single-family homes, weekly interior visits plus a visit after any storm are a safe choice.

Can I get this checklist as a printable PDF?

Yes. Enter your name and email in the checklist form on this page and we'll email you the one-page snowbird checklist.