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03-23-2019, 09:17 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Posts: 624
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Home base questions OR Still loving the life but had to get real
We've been fulltime for about 2 years now and this past winter was kind of a reality check. So hard to find nice places to hang out during the winter without making reservations at least 6 months in advance.
Anyway, we just found a little house to use for our home base but it's in an area where we don't have friends or family.
I'm wondering about others in a similar situation and how you set up your house for when you're traveling.
I assume security system with monitoring but what about everything else?
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2019 Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan) towing 2019 Buick Envision
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03-23-2019, 09:46 AM
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#2
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 62
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Depends on where your home is at. Ours is in AZ so I hire somebody to come in every two to three weeks and fill the buckets, run the water to fill drain traps, make sure the freezer is still running, etc. We also have a security system. Because it gets so hot here we set the ac on 88° to keep the wood cabinets from cracking. Also we give the neighbors our contact info in case they notice something wrong. Up north, completely different story!
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Glenn, 36' DRV 08 36TK3
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03-23-2019, 10:00 AM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: West Palm Beach, FL. USA
Posts: 27,519
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Our home sits empty for several months each year (summers) and we don't take many extra precautions. It's a quiet neighborhood and folks keep an eye out for unusual activity.
Inside, a/c is on a high setting, water heater off, some water lines shut off (toilets in particular), fridge emptied, etc.
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Gary Brinck
Former owner of 2004 American Tradition and several other RVs
Home is West Palm Beach, FL
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03-23-2019, 10:07 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Posts: 624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldbird1965
Depends on where your home is at. Ours is in AZ so I hire somebody to come in every two to three weeks and fill the buckets, run the water to fill drain traps, make sure the freezer is still running, etc. We also have a security system. Because it gets so hot here we set the ac on 88° to keep the wood cabinets from cracking. Also we give the neighbors our contact info in case they notice something wrong. Up north, completely different story!
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We're Florida so ok in terms of weather. (Sold the house in Pennsylvania before fulltime.)
Buckets?
You leave your water on?
And how did you find someone to watch the house? I'm not sure about finding someone I trust to have access to the house. Sounds like you at least know the neighbors!
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2019 Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan) towing 2019 Buick Envision
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03-23-2019, 10:10 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Posts: 624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer
Our home sits empty for several months each year (summers) and we don't take many extra precautions. It's a quiet neighborhood and folks keep an eye out for unusual activity.
Inside, a/c is on a high setting, water heater off, some water lines shut off (toilets in particular), fridge emptied, etc.
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This sounds like the way we were leaning but seems like everyone mentions a housesitter. And our house inspector talked about flushing toilets to keep the traps full.
Looks like you're pretty close to us - 1/2 hour maybe? So should be similar situation. How is your house when you get back?
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2019 Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan) towing 2019 Buick Envision
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03-23-2019, 10:24 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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My upstate NY house gets winterized, with the water turned off at the street. I drain the 50 gallon water heater, charge it with 50 psi of air and open each faucet. Loud but effective in blowing out the water.
Being gone for 6 months or more, no heat is left on, and I leave a sign with my phone # by the front door.
I block my shed door, full of tools, with Rusty, my 88, F150, and disconnect the battery.
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03-23-2019, 10:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Posts: 624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twinboat
My upstate NY house gets winterized, with the water turned off at the street. I drain the 50 gallon water heater, charge it with 50 psi of air and open each faucet. Loud but effective in blowing out the water.
Being gone for 6 months or more, no heat is left on, and I leave a sign with my phone # by the front door.
I block my shed door, full of tools, with Rusty, my 88, F150, and disconnect the battery.
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Very thorough! Thanks for sharing that. Do you also have a security system in place?
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2019 Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan) towing 2019 Buick Envision
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03-23-2019, 10:49 AM
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 4,985
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That's what you have insurance for. Also, how about letting the local police dept know that you will be gone for an extended time. Is there something particular that you are concerned about, like a break in or storm damage?
Your concern is the exact reason why we wanted to sell the house and go full time, and not have any "left behind house worries".
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03-23-2019, 11:12 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,317
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lce3
Very thorough! Thanks for sharing that. Do you also have a security system in place?
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No internet or phone up there, so no security.
Neighbors live year-round and will call if thing go real bad.
My brother lives 3 hours away if I get a call.
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03-23-2019, 12:11 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Posts: 624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grindstone01
That's what you have insurance for. Also, how about letting the local police dept know that you will be gone for an extended time. Is there something particular that you are concerned about, like a break in or storm damage?
Your concern is the exact reason why we wanted to sell the house and go full time, and not have any "left behind house worries".
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I get that. It's why we sold the house in Pennsylvania. But I got tired of looking for a place to go in the winter. Or when I need a break. Or when we need service.
So much can be monitored through the Internet but if that goes out?
Overall, it's the best kind of house but we won't be close enough to check on something if there's a problem.
Kind of wondering if people use housesitters and how they find them if they do.
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2019 Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan) towing 2019 Buick Envision
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03-23-2019, 12:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 414
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lce3
So much can be monitored through the Internet but if that goes out?
Kind of wondering if people use housesitters and how they find them if they do.
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I have an inexpensive video security monitor connected to wifi. If the power or the Internet connection goes out, it is usually for a short time and the security camera will come back on when the power/Internet comes back on. However, you could use a cell phone connection that doesn't depend on wifi such as MarCELL ( https://www.marcellpro.com/).
One thing you can do to prevent evaporation of the toilet and sink/tub traps is to pour cooking oil in each.
Since you are new to the neighborhood, one way to find a "house checker" is to see if a local bonded in home pet sitting service would be willing to periodically check on your house to flush toilets and run water into the drain traps. They go to take care of pets in home several times a day. So, it shouldn't be much effort for a pet sitter to check on your house once a week. However, I'd suggest you still have some sort of electronic monitoring system.
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03-23-2019, 01:01 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Enjoying the Western States!
Posts: 19,637
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So... since you had hard times getting a winter site are you going to be at the house all winter and travel in the summer? Summer is the worst! Or aren't you going to travel anymore.
As far as 'refilling the bucket' comment.... in Arizona or the hot, dry states it's recommended to keep moisture in the RV so buckets of water are set around. You'll have just the opposite in Florida and you'll need to get rid of the moisture or you'll get mold. Keep a close eye on it. If you're storing it nearby then get a dehumidifier and keep that running. You'll need to empty it.
To keep water from evaporating the toilet - fill the bowl with water and rub a little Vasoline along the rim then cover the bowl with saran. The water will stay there.
Keep some water in your black tank so 'stuff' left over from dumping doesn't dry out.
Get the silver insulation to cover all your windows. You might want to get tire covers for the hot sun. Give the RV a good wax job.
__________________
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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03-23-2019, 01:30 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Posts: 624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IBTripping
I have an inexpensive video security monitor connected to wifi. If the power or the Internet connection goes out, it is usually for a short time and the security camera will come back on when the power/Internet comes back on. However, you could use a cell phone connection that doesn't depend on wifi such as MarCELL ( https://www.marcellpro.com/).
One thing you can do to prevent evaporation of the toilet and sink/tub traps is to pour cooking oil in each.
Since you are new to the neighborhood, one way to find a "house checker" is to see if a local bonded in home pet sitting service would be willing to periodically check on your house to flush toilets and run water into the drain traps. They go to take care of pets in home several times a day. So, it shouldn't be much effort for a pet sitter to check on your house once a week. However, I'd suggest you still have some sort of electronic monitoring system.
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Thanks. That has some good suggestions.
__________________
2019 Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan) towing 2019 Buick Envision
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03-23-2019, 01:37 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Posts: 624
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Quote:
Originally Posted by twogypsies
So... since you had hard times getting a winter site are you going to be at the house all winter and travel in the summer? Summer is the worst! Or aren't you going to travel anymore.
As far as 'refilling the bucket' comment.... in Arizona or the hot, dry states it's recommended to keep moisture in the RV so buckets of water are set around. You'll have just the opposite in Florida and you'll need to get rid of the moisture or you'll get mold. Keep a close eye on it. If you're storing it nearby then get a dehumidifier and keep that running. You'll need to empty it.
To keep water from evaporating the toilet - fill the bowl with water and rub a little Vasoline along the rim then cover the bowl with saran. The water will stay there.
Keep some water in your black tank so 'stuff' left over from dumping doesn't dry out.
Get the silver insulation to cover all your windows. You might want to get tire covers for the hot sun. Give the RV a good wax job.
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Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated.
Yes, that's the plan to travel in the summer. True about booking a year in advance for summer too but we've had to do it almost all year with the fulltime. Need to be able to take a break. Would still travel during the winter for short trips but not having to have a place to stay can wait for cancellations too.
Ok. Thanks for explaining the buckets. That's like keeping some humidity in the house during heating season up north.
Nope, not storing it off-site. We have an RV port on our property.
There was so much more to worry about when we left the house in Pennsylvania but we knew people who could check on it. This house is more of a home base for wintering and place to come back to for a break. We don't boondock and the fulltime/campground-with-activities lifestyle wasn't the best fit.
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2019 Dutch Star 4018 (Spartan) towing 2019 Buick Envision
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