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05-06-2017, 03:00 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Mullica Hill NJ
Posts: 153
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Help with a decision?
I have RV'd for a decade now. I want to travel more and further than a two or three week trip. My dilemma is that I own a high maintenance home. It is on six acres and requires some attention. My wife and I, no little kids, have gone on three week trips and although I have the lawn cut, the property looked like it was abandoned when we returned.
What have you done to accommodate longer trips and keep your homestead? I have no relatives I can depend on to do any house sitting or even checkups. Does a property management system work? Is it expensive? I trust no one. Are they trust worthy? Mullica Hill NJ.
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05-06-2017, 03:11 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 741
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Hire it out
I recommend interviewing maintenance companies and hiring one to do yard maintenance and check on your home. We live in a townhome and depend on association hired vendors to do all the outside work. We turn off the water when we leave for long trips. We have a security system and neighbors who pick up our mail. Set things up so you can leave when you want and not have to worry.
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05-06-2017, 03:13 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,565
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I pay a neighbor to mow when we're gone on long trips. I even have him plow the drive when we're gone in the winter to myself it look like someone there.
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05-06-2017, 03:16 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: western NC mountains!
Posts: 4,106
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if you TRUST NO ONE, then, NO, you'll not find anybody other than yourself to handle it properly. You'll just be aggravated, annoyed, and probably very dissatisfied when you return.
Just leave it be until you return.
I would have more concern having strangers on my property while I'm away versus coming home to 'work' that was not done while gone. (my neighbors may have something to say about that, unless my property is on 6 acres and not readily seen from the street!)
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05-06-2017, 05:43 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,680
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Have you ever thought of going full-time and getting rid of it all? It's an extremely relaxing, carefree lifestyle.
__________________
Full-timed for 16 Years . . .
Traveled 8 yr in a 2004 Newmar Dutch Star 40' Diesel
& 8 yr in a 33' Travel Supreme 5th wheel
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05-06-2017, 06:16 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 630
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We hire most of our year care all the time which does not clue someone into our being gone. Still we need someone to check on the house esp. since we live in a wooded area. (Looking for trees that fell, roof damage, checking plumbing, etc.) Plus there is the issue of the mail. We have an alarm system for the house and that helps but not sure how we would take care of a few things if not for local family we trust.
I suppose you could turn water off to house, have a good alarm system, and perhaps some outside cameras pointed at house to watch for damage from storms or vandals. Then add in a yard care service. Still you have to do something with the mail. Either have it held or forwarded somehow.
Tom
__________________
2016 American Coach Tradition 45A
2022 Ford Expedition
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05-06-2017, 06:31 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twogypsies
Have you ever thought of going full-time and getting rid of it all? It's an extremely relaxing, carefree lifestyle.
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I second that notion! No grass to mow, no snow to shovel, no real estate taxes or home insurance to pay.
Maybe it's time to downsize? Sell the big house and leave the worries to someone else. Store the things you love, divest yourself of the clutter. You can invest your profits so that when you are done traveling you can buy an easier to manage place.
When you travel via RV you are everybody's favorite houseguest because you bring your own house. If you have friends and family with homes that can accommodate your RV, add hook ups. My RV is my mother-in-law house 4-5 months per year. Then I head south for the winter.
__________________
Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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05-06-2017, 06:37 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 3,542
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If you get someone to mow the yard while you're gone, there's no need to tell them that you're gone. Simply tell them that you both work during the day and won't be there when they are mowing.
There's no sense in advertising to strangers that your house will be empty for x weeks.
__________________
2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
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05-06-2017, 09:23 PM
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#9
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,307
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I have arranged for my landscaper to take extra steps in keeping my property looking "lived in". It always looks great when I get home.
I have a trustworthy neighbor who checks the house and on occasion tends to things while we're away.
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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05-07-2017, 05:52 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Where we park it!
Posts: 13,145
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I would hire a lawn service company to maintain the yard. Keep timers on some of the lights in house to keep it "lived" in and enjoy my trip
momdoc
__________________
momdoc
2018 Tiffin Allegro RED 37PA
2020 JEEP Trailhawk
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05-08-2017, 12:47 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Woodland, Washington
Posts: 537
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Left our Florida Beach House on April 28th. Now in Seattle with our RV. Prior to leaving we suspended our City water service, our internet service, and our garbage service. We have our local landscaper stop by after storms and now when needed. He also calls us if he thinks he should install storm panels on all of the glass if a hurricane threatens. Will be returning in October and start service a couple days before we arrive. Plan to continue this until health does not allow the drive back and forth across the US.
__________________
2004 Itasca Horizon 40AD. 400hp Cummins
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium
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05-08-2017, 12:48 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Woodland, Washington
Posts: 537
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Mow. Not now
__________________
2004 Itasca Horizon 40AD. 400hp Cummins
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium
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05-08-2017, 06:47 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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We removed the grass and installed low water low maintenance vegetation. Decommissioned the swimming pool. Installed security system with remotely viewable cameras inside and out. Have a service that comes once a month to chase any weeds that pop up.
It's really nice being able to view the property via the cameras.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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