While the cat's away...

March 16, 2015 10:48 PM

I'll be away from my apartment in Brooklyn for 3 months for work. Subletting isn't an option, so my apartment will be empty that entire time. What steps and precautions should I take to ensure that things are safe and as cost-effective as possible while I'm away?

For example, when I've done this in the past I've contacted my ISP - they charge me a nominal fee (maybe like $3/month?) to keep my account open while essentially turning off my internet connection while I'm gone. Are there other such hacks that I can/should do? Also, after my last extended absence I returned to evidence of visitors of the furry, four-legged, rodent variety. Gross. I had emptied the fridge and garbage, and I had cleaned thoroughly before I left. Is there anything else I can do while I'm away to try to discourage such visitors?

I don't have renter's insurance, but I intend to rectify that before I leave. In fact, any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

What else am I'm not thinking of?

In case it matters, I'm on the top floor of a brownstone and the owners live in the rest of the building.

posted by fingers_of_fire to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

Check the conditions of your insurance. My home insurance does cover long absences but has a much higher deductible if the home is unoccupied for more than 60 days (note I am in Australia, so this may be different).

I also use mail holds or mail forwarding for absences, which in combination with my letterbox sticker ("no admail/junk mail/unaddressed mail" - whatever the usual would be where you live), means that my letterbox stays relatively empty and it is less obvious that I am away.

I also like to give the drains a good dose of baking soda, vinegar and hot water before I leave to make sure anything nasty is well cleared.

I know not of plumbing in cold, cold places. But consider turning the toilet off at the tap (if there is one). My friends' toilet fell off the wall while they were away and flooded the house as the toilet continually tried to refill the cistern.
posted by AnnaRat at 1:01 AM on March 17, 2015 [2 favorites]

Do you have a mail-management plan while you're gone? Would the owners collect it for you?
Yes, good idea to turn off the water taps. I'd also unplug all the appliances and get rid of any food that wasn't in a can or a jar. Or, would you consider letting a friend crash there for 3 months?
posted by Klaxon Aoooogah at 1:05 AM on March 17, 2015 [2 favorites]

Make a list, including things to be done at the last minute as you walk out the door.
Check with landlord re turning off water, heat (if applicable)
Put utilities on hiatus
Hold mail at post office
Empty fridge and defrost freezer; leave door ajar.
Scrub counters and kitchen surfaces with bleach to discourage insect life
Any cereal, pasta, dry goods in boxes > transfer to glass containers
Dust covers (old sheets) on furniture
Lock windows
Unplug everything from the wall outlets.
Turn out lights

ps if you "hide" things, like cash or an iPod or something you are leaving behind, for god's sake, write down the location in a little notebook that you keep with you so you can find it again when you return.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 1:32 AM on March 17, 2015 [2 favorites]

Have a trusted friend stop by once a week or once a month to make sure things are okay. Or if you're okay with your landlords, have them go into your apartment to make sure things are okay.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:25 AM on March 17, 2015 [2 favorites]

Some lights on timers.
posted by mbarryf at 5:57 AM on March 17, 2015

If you use debit or credit cards - call them up and let them know where you'll be, so they don't suspect fraud and freeze your account the first time you use your card.
posted by vitabellosi at 6:28 AM on March 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

I used to live near a former supervisor and she'd have me check on her row house every 3rd day or so when she was away (she asked of course and would pay me a nominal amount for my trouble). Basically I'd just do a 5-10 minute walk through paying particular attention to a set of windows that habitually leaked during rainstorms and look for any other evidence of leaks in the kitchen, bathroom, and basement. I don't know how you feel about the owners coming into your apartment, but as they live there and the property is their investment, i can't imagine they'd mind doing brief, regular checks. Otherwise, do you have a trusted friend who lives nearby to do so?
posted by kaybdc at 6:40 AM on March 17, 2015

If you'd like a free housesitter (and if your landlord would allow that), let me know. I'd like to work from NYC for a few months, and I've housesat for multiple people in the past.
posted by three_red_balloons at 7:41 AM on March 17, 2015 [1 favorite]

evidence of visitors of the furry, four-legged, rodent variety

Try to put stuff that mice like might like to use for bedding in plastic tubs. Even if you get rid of their food sources, they might enjoy moving in for a nice quiet place to sleep/reproduce. Get everything up off the floor, especially papers/books and especially in your closet(s). Empty out your dresser drawers, etc. I pile everything into a few large plastic tubs during our trips and I've been able to minimize our extra housemates this way. (They have chewed their way into a couple of tubs but those had chicken feed in them. I have bolts of fabric in others and they don't bother those.)
posted by Beti at 9:23 AM on March 17, 2015

I believe all of these have already been mentioned, but:

* Make sure your renter's insurance will cover you for an extended absence.
* If you're going to be in one spot for the duration of the three months, you can set up temporary forwarding with the USPS (though not if you will be out of the country). Otherwise, set up a mail hold.
* Hold your newspaper subscription, if you get one.
* Let your banks / credit card companies know you will be traveling, when, where to, and for how long, so they don't automatically suspend your cards for suspected fraudulent use.
* Have a friend, relative, or trusted neighbor check on your apartment every so often. Including checking for rats.
* If you'll be gone during the winter: Set the heat as low as possible to avoid frozen pipes but still save on electric and/or fuel costs. Shut off water to as many sinks, toilets, bathtubs as possible to avoid frozen/burst pipes.

Is it possible to let your landlord know you'll be away for three months, and ask if s/he could possibly rent the place as a short term rental during your absence? Or will you be keeping your stuff there?
posted by tckma at 10:21 AM on March 17, 2015