Maintaining 2 Houses - Any Tips?

[Jimbo]

We retired about a year ago. We live in Wisconsin, and like it in summer, but this brutal winter will be the last for us. We're building a house just west of Phoenix, and will probably close on it in September. We've got plenty of family in Wisconsin, and like I said I like it during the mild months, so we plan to have two houses for the next few years at least.

What sort of things do we need to be aware of? I know to turn the thermostat down before we leave for Phoenix, put the water heater to "vacation" setting, and transfer the mail. But how do you handle stuff like cable and local phone service? Do you cancel, and then reinstate it in 6 months?

And there's probably a hundred other things that we haven't thought of. For instance, we have to figure out what things we'll cart back and forth, what things we'll buy, etc.

We don't even know where to start, so we're asking for help. Any tips are greatly appreciated!

 

[chris1gill]

We canceled our cable, but kept just BASIC phone service on our phone (and only for the alarm system to dial out)... for the winter, have it winterized. A plumber can come in, flush the pipes empty, and then they shut down the furnace. It costs just a few hundred dollars, but well worth it. We had a house we did this with for several years, and for next winter we're planning to do that with new house #2 that we just moved from if it doesn't sell.... The other house was just a second house we did it with every year.

 

[da-winnie-pooh]

We spend about 25% of the time in Florida, hopefully more soon.

We have Vonage phone service and take an adaptor back and forth. Our TN friends and family just call our regular number. We're also looking into a Slingbox (?) to attach to a computer so we can watch our TN satellite TV in Florida.

Enjoy nice, warm Arizona!

 

[Dedejf]

We're in the same boat, Jimbo, and would really appreciate hearing from anyone else in the same situation. We hope to find a second home in the Lakeland or Auburndale area in FL but there's so much to consider before we take the plunge.

 

[Jimbo]

We're in the same boat, Jimbo, and would really appreciate hearing from anyone else in the same situation. We hope to find a second home in the Lakeland or Auburndale area in FL but there's so much to consider before we take the plunge.

This winter was the last straw for a lot of us, I think.

 

[arminnie]

I have a home in Arkansas and a home in New Orleans - but I spend time in each home almost every month.

I have a cell phone that I use as my primary phone - so people don't have to wonder which phone to call. I did get another cell phone with a 504 number so my security system (buzzer) could connect to it.

I did not have much luck with the Slingbox - but again that was just after Katrina so nothing worked very well. It took me about 6 months to get cable and internet services in New Orleans after the storm. I hooked on to non-secured wireless networks until I finally got connected.

I do keep a landline in Arkansas for my father (87). He is the only reason I have cable in New Orleans as I truly can go 2 weeks without turning on the TV. But I have to have my internet access.

A big consideration is which state you will claim as your legal residence. You should be consistent with your voter registration, driver's license, car insurance and registration, income tax, etc.

I pay all of my bills online so I don't have to worry about being around for the bills to arrive. If you order things online some places only want to deliver to the address on the credit card. I keep two credit cards - one with each address.

 

[mselly13]

My mother has a lake house and a condo in the city...but they are only about an hour away from each other. Her primary residence is the condo.

She spends about 3 weeks at the lake at Christmas and 3-4 weeks during the summer and weekends whenever she feels like it.
She has a neighbor at the lakehouse that has a key. So the neighbor will go turn on the heat/air the day before she comes down and just drives by to keep an eye on the place.
She actually turns the hot water heater off at the circuit box. It stinks for about the first two loads of laundry after turning it back on. So we usually rung the washer twice with empty loads to get the smell out...I tell you it's an awful rotten egg smell.
She has basic phone at the lake and no cable.
She did finally have an alarm system put in and the alarm company has a guy that they send out every couple of weeks to check the place also...he has a key too.
Before she leaves each time she pours a little bleach in the shower, toilet and sink. This keeps those things fresh and clean.
This year she hasn't been there since Christmas so actually the Christmas tree and decorations are still up and it's April. Guess we will take down Christmas when we put up 4th of July.
Hope this helps some.

 

[chris1gill]

Oh don't forget one thing, you'll have to hire a plow to plow the snow, otherwise if something happens to the house & firetrucks cannot get to it, you're out of luck. Our insurance company requires us to keep the house plowed out...

 

[arminnie]

This year she hasn't been there since Christmas so actually the Christmas tree and decorations are still up and it's April. Guess we will take down Christmas when we put up 4th of July.

That sounds familiar!!

I left Little Rock at 1:30 pm on Christmas Day - so the tree was still up. Mardi Gras was very early this year (early Feb.) so I was very busy in New Orleans and didn't get back. Then I had to make some other trips (Dallas and D.C.) so I didn't get the tree undecorated until March!! I was seriously considering leaving it up all year until it got warm. I just couldn't look at a Christmas tree when the temperature was in the 70s!

 

[mudnuri]

My grandparents did this for quite a few years.

here, our cable and electric companies will 'suspend' service while your away, and then turn it back on when you return. If you cancel it- you might get hit with a reconnect fee when you come home. thats why they allowed suspensions up here, to save that $40 or so..........

Brandy