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Winter Lock-Up: How to Protect Your Vacation Property Against Pests
Protect your property from unwanted intruders during the unoccupied winter months.
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Vacation property owners face the dilemma of having vacant homes for part of the year. How can you ensure that your home is safe?
Most police departments have crime statistics that you can look up online. If not, call your local law enforcement agency (non-emergency number) and talk with them about your concerns.
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As a precaution, you can employ your housekeeper or maintenance person to check on your property periodically throughout the “closed" season. Simply pay them a fee, which in the end may be less expensive and less of a hassle than installing a security system.
Wildlife seems to be more of a problem with closed-up homes than burglaries or break-ins. And, the local wildlife is stealthier and more apt to get in without anyone ever noticing.
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Raccoons are the first unwelcome intruders that come to mind. I know an owner that went to open their place in the spring and found their whole place ransacked. Cupboards were opened, food spilled throughout the place, beds unmade, sofa cushions torn apart, etc. They immediately called the police, but there was no sign of a break-in anywhere. After they cleaned up, and went to bed that night, the culprits showed themselves. A whole family of raccoons! Babies and all had taken refuge in their house for the winter.
The point of this story? I would spend more time and effort pest-proofing against wildlife, like raccoons, than worrying about the kids that may or may not break in.
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How do you prepare for closing your vacation home for the winter?
"My vacation rental is in Toronto and racoons are a big problem there. Part of my winter lock-up routine is making sure there are no places the racoons can "nest" on my property. I remove my woodpile and block any potential entries (to the attic or the shed) with boards." - Pete L., Toronto, Canada.
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© Christine Karpinski 2006, Updated10/2/08
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