Cut grass while at WDW?

[Unofficial627]

We will be away for 2 weeks and was wondering about our lawn. I know it will grow and look bad, but should we at least get someone to come and cut it at least once, so our mower doesn't die in a feeble attempt to cut the overgrown grass? Just so it looks semi-decent on our return home? Anyone else have the same problem? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Rebecca12345]

My answer is YES!! I'm sure there must be a teenage neighbor who is capable & responsible & willing to make a few $.

If you don't, you may return home to more than a lawn mower repair bill (Attention all thieves: unmowed lawn=we're gone)

I also have the post office HOLD all my mail til I get home. (another potential theft problem)

Get a few timers & set lamps & radio or tv to be on at differnt hrs at night.

Also have your neighbors check your home, park their cars in driveway occasionally & check front porch for any papers or deliveries left out.

Leave your phone number so they can contact you or a family member/close friend who lives near your home in case of any emergencies or questions.

Leave your washer lid open & also your dishwasher ajar (to avoid musty smells).

Don't forget the houseplants to be watered....

You can help your neighbor out when they go out of town.

there must be more tips....anyone?

 

[SamSam]

I think you've covered just about everything; only thing I would add is if you have a daily paper delivered....either call and have it halted during your vacation or have a neighbor pick it up and keep it for you.

We're fortunate that we have neighbors that pick up our mail & paper, watch the house, mow the lawn while we're gone and of course we do the same for them when they're gone.

 

[WDWfanatic288]

we had my grandpa mow the lawn and also my neighbor b/c where we live you can get fined for not cutting the grass(lots of strict rules...but at least it keeps our neighborhood nice )

and we sent in our slip to hold the mail...they didn't get it! so I open the mailbox on friday and soooo muhc stuff was in our small little mailbox...it took me a few minutes to get it all out!

 

[jim&laura]

Check with your local police department. With the police department that I work with and others in the area, we do a vacation house check. You fill out a form giving them information, such as where you are going, who has a key to your house, what lights are left on. They'll walk around your house at least once a day to make sure everything is okay.

 

[BostonTigger]

Originally posted by Rebecca12345
Leave your washer lid open & also your dishwasher ajar (to avoid musty smells).

Never thought of this one...thanks for the tip.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I agree with getting one of the teens from your neighbor hood to cut it. If you can't, see if there are lawn service's that will do a one cut deal. Also another tip... UNPLUG your hot water heater. No need for heating the water up with no one to use it, saves on your electric bill!

 

[Rebecca12345]

Here are a couple more...

check thermostats on heating or A/C
turn off computers, unplug appliances...?* keep reading...


this is bizarre, but we had a rare thunderstorm one time, &
lightening hit our HUGE OLD tree, knocked a huge limb off it.
Bark shattered everywhere. The electrical current went down the trunk, through the roots, which were into neighbors yard & blew out every electrical thing they had plugged in their home!

their vacuum, garage doors, computer, tv, stereo, etc....
when she came over to tell me what happened to her home,
she gave me 'the look'. I felt badly but it wasn't like I had any control over that happening!

Her insurance did cover everything.


any more vacation tips ?

 

[Unofficial627]

Thanks for all the tips! They were all very helpful!!!

 

[casmanuel]

We turn our water completely off. Too fearful of coming home to a flood.

It saves money to turn off your hot water heater while you are gone and can prevent damage. Once the thermostat on our hot water heater went bad, and we had STEAM coming out of the faucets. We were sick thinking about what would have happened if we'd been out of town.

 

[geffric]

We do the same thing as everyone else but we also turn off the water to the ice maker. A repair person told us to do that so that in case something goes wrong with the ice maker, water can come pouring out of it and flood the kitchen.

 

[ListenToCKY]

Originally posted by Rebecca12345
turn off computers

Edit: Nevermind. I see why you're saying this.

 

[casmanuel]

No it doen't hur the PC to leave it on but you do run the risk of it being damaged by a power surge. In our area this is common during bad weather.

 

[ListenToCKY]

My original post was saying something like if they normally leave their PC on, they can. I leave mine on all the time except when it starts to lag. I figured she said turn it off to avoid surges and such.

 

[casmanuel]

Yeah I saw your edit, but just figured I'd leave it alone. Nothing like beating a dead horse on a message board. My DH is into shutting down our house the way I'm in to packing lists. I go nuts right before we leave--no water, no electricity to the appliances, and I'm locked out of the freezer, closets, attics, etc. He thinks of EVERYTHING! Apropos to the OP, we don't hire a lawn service, but mowing is the last thing he does before we leave and the first thing when we get back.