Winter is upon us, and many snowbirds are heading south for the winter. Snowbirds are typically retirees who wish to avoid the snow and cold temperatures of northern winter, but maintain ties with family and friends by staying there the rest of the year. Some are business owners who have a second home in a warmer location or whose business can be easily moved from place to place. Some are people who suffer from seasonal affective disorder, who wish to enjoy the longer daylight hours in the southern latitudes in winter. A significant portion of the snowbird community is made up of RV’ers. Many own an RV for the sole purpose of traveling south in the winter. Often they go to the same location every year and consider the other RVers that do the same to be a “second family”. Many RV parks label themselves “snowbird friendly” and get the majority of their income from the influx of RVing snowbirds. There are places like Quartzsite, Arizona, that have been labeled “white cities” because from a bird’s-eye view, all the motorhomes cover the landscape in white, and then in the summer are gone. While historically Florida has been the number one RV snowbird location, other southern U.S. states are experiencing a boom from snowbirds enjoying the southern climate “without the hurricane threat”. For example, the university town of Starkville, Mississippi has become a destination for thousands of out-of-town RVers coming to enjoy the mild winter climate and the ;ow cost of living. Some of the other top snowbird destinations are California, Florida, and Texas. If you are not a full-time RV’er, then you have a bit of a process to go through when preparing to leave your stick home for the winter. We came across an excellent article written by Rex Vogel that runs you through a thorough checklist of preparing to head south. Rex suggests “Preparing your home for an extended absence takes thorough thought and planning”. He offers this list of 6 items that are not to be missed:
Check expiry dates – Well in advance of your departure, check expiry dates for your passport and other travel documents, driver’s license, motor vehicle registration, vehicle insurance, credit cards, and membership cards—and renew if necessary.
Home insurance – Check with your insurance agency to determine how extended absences may affect coverage. Determine if your insurer requires regular walk-throughs during your absence and if so, how frequently.
Snow removal – You are escaping the snow, but your home is not. Arrange with a neighbor, relative, friend, or snow removal service to keep your sidewalks clear of the white stuff that Northerners know all too well.
Contact person – Ask a friend, neighbor, or relative to be the contact person for your home. The contact person should have access to your home. It’s important to have someone check your home on a regular basis, remove sales flyers, be available in emergency situations, and make repair appointments if necessary. Your home should look like someone is living there.
Contact information – Provide the contact person and other neighbors, relatives, and friends with pertinent information including cell phone and email address, vehicle and home insurance, security system, furnace repair, description of RV and toad or tow truck and trailer with plate numbers.
Notify neighbors – Inform trusted neighbors that you will be away for a specified period of time. You’ll want them to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity. Ensure they have a list of contact persons, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Where is your favorite snowbird destination? What tips to you have to offer to help others in successfully preparing for a winter departure? We love to hear from you! You can post your comments below, or post them to our Facebook page!
Click here for a link to the complete article by Vogel.
