The Snowbird Summer Checklist for San Tan Valley and Queen Creek Homes
If you just arrived for the season, now is the easiest time to plan for leaving in the spring, while you're here to line up service providers. Arizona summers are hard on an empty house: triple-digit heat, monsoon storms, dust, scorpions and pools that turn green in a week. Here's what our snowbird clients do before heading north.
Heat and A/C
- Don't turn the A/C off. Set it to a temperature that protects the home, cabinets and anything sensitive to heat. Ask your HVAC company what they recommend for your system.
- Get an A/C service before you leave and change the filter.
- A smart thermostat lets you check the house from anywhere and alerts you if the A/C fails.
Water
- Turn off the main water supply and the water heater, or install a leak detector with automatic shutoff.
- Keep drip irrigation running on a timer so plants and trees survive.
- Pour water into drains before you go to keep P-traps from drying out.
Pool
- Keep a pool service on schedule, or set up a reliable automatic system with a neighbor checking it.
- Monsoon storms dump debris. Ask your pool company to check after big storms.
Monsoon Prep
- Clean gutters and scuppers.
- Store or tie down patio furniture and umbrellas.
- Trim trees that hang over the roof.
- Check that washes and drainage paths near the house are clear.
Pests
- Schedule pest control to continue while you're away. Scorpions and roaches love quiet homes.
- Seal gaps under doors.
Security and Deed Fraud
- Put lights on timers and add a video doorbell.
- Forward or hold mail.
- Leave a key and your contact info with a trusted neighbor or house-watch service, and tell your HOA your dates.
- Register the home with Arizona's free ERAS alert at earlyalert.azre.gov and your county recorder alert. Seasonal homes are a rising target for seller impersonation scams.
Insurance
Call your agent. Ask how long the home can sit empty before coverage changes, and whether you need a vacancy endorsement.
For the full owner's guide, including Arizona's new squatter law, see: Leaving a Home Vacant in San Tan Valley or Queen Creek.
The Kallhoff Team | RE/MAX Premier · 480-275-9566 · kallhoffteam.com
