Pack It Up. The Season’s Over

The weeks after Labor Day mark the beginning of the end for many Hamptonites. As you prepare to trade in beach towels and sandals for flannel sheets and woolen socks, there are a few things to remember about closing up your beach house.

First, decide if you want to simply hire someone to do all the work for you. If so, stop reading and pick up the yellow pages. However, if you are more of an adventurous homeowner and enjoy the being responsible for your home, then keep reading.

It may seem a bit trite, but there is something to be said for ownership of such seemingly annoying tasks. Truly understanding the mechanisms in your household, such as how water systems, heating, and weather conditions work, can actually be a rewarding experience.

Once you have decided to actually “close” the house yourself- you need to think about how it needs to be done. If you plan to visit the house at any time during the winter, or maybe for some late fall or very early spring days, you will most likely want to keep the heat on- and keep water in the pipes. This level of winter preparedness is rather light- and your house should be warm enough if you set the thermostat at 45 degrees. You can even keep most plant types in the house over the winter, but be sure that someone comes to the house to water them.

To help contain the indoor heat over the winter and reduce your expenses, you will want to see what type of windows you have. If they are older frames, you might consider resealing them, or even using a plastic wrap over the windows to minimize drafts. It won’t be very pretty but it should be efficient. If keeping the original windows in your house is important to you, this is my suggestion.

However, if you have a newer house or have already replaced the older style windows, then this won’t be as big an issue, and simply making sure that all screens have been replaced with glass is the most important thing you need to do. Of course, make sure all the windows are also closed and locked.

Be sure to put away all linens, if you aren’t planning to take them with you. At the very least, pack them away in an airtight bag or Tupperware box. Store away porch cushions and bedding to prevent musty smells or mold growth on your belongings.

Also, be sure to remove all food. Canned goods and unopened boxes may be safe, but anything at all that has been opened – crackers, oatmeal flakes, or cereals of any kind – are not to be left. There is no need to leave any temptation for critters to make themselves at home while you are away. Remember to have all magazine subscriptions forwarded to your winter residence and give time for the post office to have your address changed. Check that your bills are being sent to the correct address if you don’t do them electronically.

For those of you who plan to not come back to the house at all and don’t want the expense of heating an uninhabited house, the closing process is more involved. If you are going to do this, you will need your house to be ready to be frozen – meaning, no water in any pipes. Failure to do this will result in an expensive and messy reopening next spring, so be extra cautious. You might need to hire a plumber to come in and do this for you if you have never done it before but if you are interested in learning about the process, spend time with the person and learn where the valves are in your house; next year you should be ready to do this yourself without the professional help. I would, however, recommend hiring someone to teach you if you have never done this before.

The season may be ending, but spend the time reflecting on your summer while making the move back to the old life by closing down your house as much on your own as you can.

–Liz Dembrowsky