Back for the Season: The Snowbird Arrival Checklist for Your Martin County Home

While You're Away Co. · Stuart, FL · Posted October 27, 2026

Late October through December is when a lot of our neighbors come back to Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Sewall's Point and the rest of Martin County. After months of summer heat, rainy-season humidity and hurricane season, a closed-up house can hide problems that are cheap to fix today and expensive to find in a month. This is the checklist we use when we open a home, written so you can do it yourself on the day you arrive.

1. Water and plumbing

• Turn the main water back on slowly and listen for running water when every fixture is off.
• Look under every sink, behind each toilet and around the water heater for drips, stains or warped cabinet floors.
• Run every faucet and shower for a minute, then flush each toilet; seldom-used fixtures can have dried-out seals.
• Check the washing machine and ice maker supply lines for bulges or cracks before you run them.
• If the water heater was off, turn it back on by following the maker's instructions and wait for it to recover before you shower.

2. A/C, humidity and mold

• Set the thermostat to your normal temperature and confirm the house actually cools within an hour or two.
• Check the condensate drain line and drain pan at the air handler; a clogged line is one of the most common causes of ceiling and closet water damage in Florida homes.
• Replace the A/C filter if it has been in all summer.
• Look and smell for mold or mildew in closets, bathrooms, behind furniture on outside walls and inside cabinets.
• Book your A/C service now if it is due, before the end-of-year rush.

3. Storm season leftovers

• Walk the outside and look for missing roof tiles or shingles, lifted soffits, loose gutters and fallen limbs.
• Check ceilings in every room, especially near exterior walls, for new stains.
• Look over screen enclosures, lanai screens, fences and pool cages.
• Hurricane season runs through November 30, so leave shutters and supplies where you can reach them until then.
• If you find damage, take dated photos before you clean up and call your insurance agent.

4. Pests, kitchen and electrical

• Check under sinks, in the garage and in the pantry for droppings, ants or roaches.
• Plug the refrigerator back in (or check it if it stayed on) and toss anything questionable.
• Reset any tripped GFCI outlets in the kitchen, bathrooms, garage and lanai.
• Test the smoke alarms and replace batteries as needed.
• Run the dishwasher and garbage disposal once empty to clear stale water.

5. Outside, pool and access

• Check that pool equipment is running and the water is clear.
• Test irrigation zones and look for broken heads or a stuck valve.
• Try every door and window lock, the garage door and any gate or HOA access cards or codes.
• Restart mail delivery and any paused services, and let your HOA or condo office know you're back.

6. Set up for the next time you leave

Arrival is the easiest time to get ready for spring. Make a note of anything that failed this summer, and put a leak and temperature alert system in place while you're home to test it. Our Smart Protection Kit ($249) includes four leak and freeze sensors, a temperature and humidity sensor, a smart smoke alarm and the hub, all sending alerts to your phone. If you're in Martin County, we can install and test it for you with a $99 setup visit (free for plan clients).

Common questions

What should I check first when I get back? Water and air. Look for leaks and stains, then make sure the A/C cools and its drain line flows. Mold, pests and storm damage come next.

Can someone open my home before I arrive? Yes. Our Seasonal Open-Up visit covers the home watch arrival checklist before you get there, anywhere in Martin County.

Should I keep leak sensors running while I'm home? Yes. They're useful all year, and they're already set up and tested when you head north again.