Say what? A snowbird isn’t a bird, but actually a person? No, seriously, I knew this, but I wanted to learn more about the history of a snowbird since I wanted to write a blog post that involved them.
I learned that John D. Rockefeller was one of the very first snowbirds and that he was way ahead of his time as he spent his winters in Ormond Beach, FL and started his snowbird journey as early as the year 1914. I also learned that snowbirds helped to push real estate development in the 70’s. Due to improved roads and more people traveling by plane, the snowbird lifestyle drastically increased as did the need for more real estate to house them in.
Did you know, however, that snowbirds have huge checklists that they need to take care of before they head out on their warm winter escape? Image how difficult it is to pack for a week, let alone a long holiday such as a month or more. Preparing to be a snowbird can be exciting, but if you let it, it can become stressful and somewhat overwhelming. So, if you’re new to the snowbird experience or would just like some helpful tips to make it easier on you, I have some ideas and tips that might help you manage it all just with a just a little bit more ease.
Winterize Your Home
You’re packing up to leave your home for warmer weather, but your home is still going to be left out in the cold. Of course, that means that you could run into problems that you don’t want to face upon your return. But, there are things you can do to protect your home while it’s unoccupied.
You will want to make sure your home is safe from electrical or heating problems, possible water damage, break-ins, and other threats while you’re traveling for a long period of time. You want your home to appear as though it IS occupied to prevent thieves from attempting to enter your property. By taking the right steps to ensure all of the problems that could arise, don’t arise, you will put your mind at ease and that will allow you to enjoy your time away from home without worry.
State Farm offers peace of mind for snowbirds. They offer tips on everything you need to protect your home from weather damage and theft.
What To Pack
Packing for me is always the most stressful part of any trip I take. I’ve not yet done the snowbird travel, so I can imagine that it could become tedious. From food items, clothing, your medications, and pet supplies/medications (if your condo allows pets), it might be easy to forget something.
A lot of items can be purchased at your destination, but if it’s a long list of items that can add up, you’ll want to bring many of those items with you. Many places that do snowbird rentals, such as our units at Premium Beach Condos, have fully stocked kitchens, along with many other amenities, like a hair dryer, so you won’t have to worry about bringing those items. Be sure to check with the property management where you will be renting your snowbird accommodations so you know what you won’t need to bring!
For a checklist of items that you might want to pack, or ones you didn’t think of, here’s a great website for you to check out. SmaterTravel has lots of information to share!
Mail Delivery
Traveling for long periods of time can often create a challenge for mail service, but there are so many options these days that help out. You could contact your local post office and have your mail put on hold for the time that you will be gone, but that’s only a decent option if you’re traveling a few weeks at a time. Mail forwarding would be a great option if you’re going to be staying at a place that has that option. Be sure to check with your management company if you’re renting to make sure that is an available option before you make that choice.
Snowbirding Cental offers several other ideas to help out if none of the above seem to be a good option for you.
Administrative Items
I’ve complied a checklist that I think would be advantageous when it comes to administrative items that you use to run your household. Some might not apply, but I thought I should list them all so nothing goes forgotten.
- Think about hiring someone to take care of your plants while you are gone
- If you’re unable to take your pets with you and you don’t want to board your pets, hire someone to take care of them for you
- If you’re going to be gone longer than a month, consider putting your cable and internet on hold until you return
- If you have regular deliveries, be sure to stop those or put them on hold
- Talk to your insurance provider to see if you need to make any changes while you are gone
- Transfer prescriptions for your medications
Security For Peace of Mind
- When you leave, double check one last time to make sure all the doors and windows are locked
- Let friends and neighbors know you’ll be gone and for how long
- Give friends and neighbors your phone number so they can reach out to you in the event of an emergency
- Set your lights on timers or apps so they can be turned on and off at different times
- You might want to notify the police of your travel plans
- If you have a friend or relative willing to do so, have them check on your home periodically to check for any problems
- Most importantly, set your security system if you have one
Clean Your Home
I always leave my home clean when I go away for any length of time. That way, I won’t have any stress of coming home with a lot of work to do. Here are a few tips to help ensure less stress:
- Do all of your laundry and put it all away
- Empty all garbage cans
- Remove any opened food and toss or seal them in tightly sealed containers
- Clean out the refrigerator/freezer. If they are empty, shut them down and dry them out, but be sure to leave the doors ajar to prevent mildew
- Clean the entire house
Whether you currently are a snowbird, are considering taking up the snowbird lifestyle, or just want to find a nice warm spot to spend one (or ALL) of the winter months away from the cold and snow, look no further than Premium Beach Condos to book your next home away from home. We offer great snowbird rates and our condos are all beautiful and offer great amenities, like full kitchens so you can cook and entertain your other snowbird friends! Customer service is our top priority and we’ll work hard to make sure your “home away from home” experience is five-star!