Going home for the spring and summer isn’t as simple as packing your clothes and boarding a plane
Estimates suggest nearly 1 million seasonal residents flock to Florida in the fall and winter annually, spending the coldest months of the year in a warmer climate before returning home in the spring. Arizona also sees its fair share of sunseekers in the winter.
The individuals who arrive from northern states and Canada are known as snowbirds, and they travel back and forth between their residences to avoid poor weather.
While the life of a snowbird sounds appealing, packing up your entire life every six months is a lot of work, and there are many things to remember along the way. The last thing you want to do is forget some essential items because recovering them will be expensive and challenging.
Therefore, ensuring you’re prepared to return home in the early spring is vital because it makes the transition far more straightforward.
Here’s a look at four essential tips to streamline this process, including information on snowbird car shipping.
Key takeaways
- Snowbirds spend their winters in warmer climates
- Returning home takes some preparation
- Shipping your car can save on travel time
1. Make a checklist
One of the most straightforward steps you can take before returning home is creating a pre-departure checklist to avoid leaving anything behind. It’s easy to overlook certain items when spending months in a location because they can seep into your subconscious to the point where you barely notice them.
A checklist makes it less likely you’ll forget your valuables because you can spend weeks remembering and adding to the list.
Items to put on your checklist include your travel documents, medication, and electronics, which are objects you won’t want to be without when you return home.
Your checklist might also include the other ideas on this list, which are jobs you’ll take care of closer to your departure date.
2. Plan your travel route
A significant part of your planning should involve determining how you are getting home. Many people will drive their vehicles to their summer residence, which takes a lot of time and puts additional wear on the car.
It’s possible to fly home and use a snowbird car shipping service for your vehicle. That way, you don’t have to worry about traffic, driving long distances, or taking hotel rooms along the way. When you factor in the stops you’ll have to make, using an auto transport service might save you money, and it’s far safer.
If you decide to drive, figure out a route that avoids major cities as much as possible. This strategy means less traffic, and there are often cheaper hotel rooms in outlying areas.
You’ll also want to look at the weather forecast while planning your return home because a late-season snowstorm could create significant travel delays. Servicing your car before departure is also advisable.
When flying, you should know that transporting your belongings becomes more challenging. You might choose to ship certain items or use a moving company rather than paying for baggage because it could save you some cash. You’ll probably throw any perishable items you don’t consume in the garbage, too, because taking them on the plane isn’t feasible.
Carefully think about your travel plans well before it’s time to leave to avoid a chaotic scene at the last minute.
3. Close up your winter home
Of course, if you own your southern home and aren’t just renting it for the season, you’ll have to close it up for the year. This process could involve simple tasks like removing the linens, cleaning the house from top to bottom, and emptying the refrigerator.
The goal is to ensure your home is ready for you to return next fall and is in as good condition as possible for when that day arrives.
Other jobs you can do before leaving for the season include setting your air conditioning to a higher temperature to limit energy consumption and adjusting the humidistat to its summer setting, so you don’t return to mold and mildew. You might also unplug all your televisions, radios, and lights, preventing them from using power when you aren’t there.
If you have mail or newspapers delivered to your winter home, you’ll want to cancel those services along with your television and internet subscriptions. You can leave some of these services active if you’ll be renting the house out to other parties in the summer, though.
Remember to contact your security contractor before you leave for the season, too, so they know the building will be unoccupied until the following fall.
4. Reconnect your services at home
Once you’re all ready to leave, it’s a good idea to reconnect the services at your summer home. This job could include contacting your phone, cable, and internet providers so these amenities are available when you arrive back at your other property.
You might also want to arrange for some basic maintenance when you return, such as having an HVAC contractor clean your filters and inspect your air conditioning system. Cleaning your vents is also a good idea because mold can form over time.
The goal is to ensure your summer home is as comfortable as possible when you return and minimizing potential service disruptions helps you get there.
Developing your travel plan
Deciding how you’ll get home is perhaps the most critical part of this process because it determines how much time you’ll spend on the road and what you can take with you. It’s a good idea to begin looking early if you’re seeking cheap airline tickets or a snowbird car shipping service because that gives you more time to find a good deal.
Mercury Auto Transport offers car shipping brokerage services, presenting you with quotes from reputable carriers in your area. These snowbird car shipping service providers will return your vehicle to your summer home, saving you the drive. Contact Mercury Auto Transport today to learn more or receive a free quote.
