Prepare your Florida home before you leave.

Prepare the house and its systems

UF/IFAS recommends planning ahead for seasonal departures, including air-conditioning service, moisture control, exterior upkeep and a review of insurance. Its checklist is a starting point; adapt it to your home and equipment.

• Ask your HVAC provider to confirm away settings and maintenance.
• Resolve known leaks or damaged weather seals before leaving.
• Confirm which appliances and systems must remain operating.

Write down who handles what

Create one contact list for your Home Watch team, HVAC company, plumber, pool provider, landscaper and association. Record who may approve work and the spending limits you authorize.

For a condo, confirm the association’s responsibilities and what remains yours. Do not assume a shared maintenance contract covers the inside of your unit.

Set the visit plan before departure

Agree on visit frequency, the areas to check and how you want to receive updates. Tell your provider about rooms with special conditions, known concerns and any scheduled vendor work.

• Share arrival and departure dates.
• Confirm private key, alarm and gate-access arrangements.
• Provide a primary contact and a backup contact.
• Identify who receives device or leak alerts.

Record the starting condition

A dated departure record makes future observations easier to compare. Keep the agreed settings, relevant photos and unresolved concerns with your service instructions.

With Lantern, the free assessment establishes your checklist and rate. Completed visits are documented in the homeowner portal; authorized arrival or departure help can be requested separately.