When the leaves are falling off the trees at summer cottages, or the snow has finally melted around the winter cabin, preparing to leave can be bittersweet. There are many reasons to spend time closing a camp properly including burst pipes, vandalism, rodents and structural damage.

To avoid these pitfalls, and make re-opening the camp easier, Joanne Palmisano, author of Camps, Cottages and Cabins: Tips and Ideas for Getting the Most out of Your Seasonal Home, offers the following “top ten closing tips.”

1. Clean Out the Kitchen. Thoroughly clean out the refrigerator and unplug it, you don't want mildew ravaging your appliances in the spring. Clean the cabinets and cupboards.

“One of my favorite traditions is an end of the season community party,” notes Palmisano. “Everyone is cleaning out the kitchen and it can be a great way to say goodbye while making good use of the leftover food.”

2. Clean Out the Living Areas and Bedrooms. Store away bed spreads and linens, there is no place more comfortable for rodents to sleep than in your bedspread. Allow your cabin to breathe while you are away. Leave doors and drawers open to increase circulation.

3. Block off the Flues and Stove Pipes. Make sure you have closed the flue on your stove. Also, sealing flues and stove pipes with a metal cap should keep the birds out.

4. Cover the Windows. Plywood or thin sheet metal will due. Put handles on the outside of the wood and number the pieces to make next years close easier. Sealing your cottage will not only protect it from the weather, but also keep unwanted visitors away.

5. Drain the Pipes. Make certain that you drain and shut off your water before you leave for good. The last thing you want is for lingering water to freeze your pipes.

6. Don't Forget the Little Things. Sometimes the little things are often overlooked. Make sure you forward your mail to your permanent address. Make sure your service contacts, like plumbers and electricians, know how to reach you away from the cabin. If you are concerned about phone use, shut off your service or take the phone with you.

7. Consider Security. If you are concerned about intruders, deadbolts are an option as well as hiring a year round resident to keep his or her eyes out for you. You should also consider motion detector lights to deter unwanted visitors.

8. Remove Fire Hazards. This is as easy as removing all papers, newspapers, old rags, chemicals, turning off all utilities and unplugging appliances.

9. Securing Outside Furniture and Boats. Take the time to gather all outside furniture and clean it before you secure and cover it. Turn your small boats upside down and if there is a drain hole, open it up, making sure it is on the downhill side of any slope.

10. Saying Goodbye. Before you pull out of your driveway for the season, don't be afraid to reflect on the wonderful season it has been. Think about all the new things that happened, special times you had and the long lasting memories that still await.

About the Author: With over twenty-two years experience as a cottage owner and renter, Joanne Palmisano wrote Camps, Cottages and Cabins, a seasonal home handbook for cabin owners around the country. Joanne's own lakefront home has been recently featured in two national publications, Good Housekeeping (December 2005) and Better Homes and Gardens (September 2006) and on the cable television show, New England Dream House. Visit Joanne's website www.loveyourcottage.com for more information.

How do you prepare for closing your vacation home for the winter?

 

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