Leaving house behind....

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mem0998

Reacher

Joined: May 25, 2005
Posts: 266
Location: NJ
Status: Offline

Posted: June 06, 2006 - 02:20 AM
Post subject: Leaving house behind....

Hi,

has anyone out there left their house behind? If so, do you winterize (turn off water, empty pipes, etc) or leave it low maintainence (heat on low, etc). Do you have someone who comes in regularly to check up on things? What about cars...anyone leave a car behind?

We're moving to Shanghai in August and aren't selling our house, but can't rent it out either. So any advise from people would be helpful (but don't recommend selling our house...not a possibility right now).

Thanks to all who can help!

MIexpat

Reacher

Joined: July 30, 2004
Posts: 323
Location: dongbei
Status: Offline

Posted: June 06, 2006 - 03:12 AM

You need to check with your homeowner's insurance company and your mortgage company for their policy on leaving a house vacant - most have clauses (unfavorable to you) concerning long term vacancies - we considered leaving our house vacant with someone coming regularly to check on it but after investigating the insurance/mortgage we decided it was better to rent (and certain expenses related to renting are tax-deductible...)

mmd1227

Ranter

Joined: Nov 14, 2004
Posts: 542

Status: Offline

Posted: June 06, 2006 - 05:30 AM

We have left our house for the past 2 1/2 years, and 2 years before that when we lived in HK. According to my insurance agent, if all your belongings(furniture, etc.) are still in there, it is not considered vacant, just that you are away on vacation. We have a neighbor and several friends who have keys, and they go inperiodically to check for any problems, change from heat to A/C, flush toilets, and jsut make sure everything is ok. I go home twice a year, so I keep my car hooked up to a battery tender and I put fuel stabilizer in the gas tank.

mmd1227

Ranter

Joined: Nov 14, 2004
Posts: 542

Status: Offline

Posted: June 06, 2006 - 05:32 AM

one more thing...if you are going to be gone a very long period before going home, you might want ti either have your car put up on "blocks", or have someone move it in and out of your garage to keep your tires from getting flat.