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grammaz

Mar 25, 2011, 7:02 PM

Post #1 of 11 (5528 views)

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Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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I'm looking for some advice on what we need to do to close up our home for six months. We will have it checked weekly and have plants water, check for bugs etc. What I would like to know is can I leave clothes in drawers, linens in closets, beds made up or should I put everything in plastic bins or bags. We are going to have the a/c programmed to come on each day to try and eleviate the problem with the humidity. We are also considering getting a dehumidifer. We are quite close to the water. We are going to leave our fridge running to prevent mold and smell but will disconnect all the other appliances. Our fridge is on a voltage regulator. We are going to have the condo fumigated before we leave to make sure there are no little pests waiting to move in once we are gone. Any other suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Camille

Mar 25, 2011, 10:05 PM

Post #2 of 11 (5500 views)

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Re: [grammaz] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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Sounds like you have it covered....give it a dress rehearsal by spending a night elsewhere and see what all else y'all think of....

turnabout

Mar 26, 2011, 6:22 AM

Post #3 of 11 (5459 views)

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Re: [grammaz] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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In Reply To

leaving the fridge running 6 months is a complete waste of energy. Unplug it, clean it and secure the doors open.

mexicobuff

Mar 26, 2011, 7:40 AM

Post #4 of 11 (5433 views)

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Re: [grammaz] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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Turn off the hot water heater, including the pilot light.

sioux4noff

Mar 26, 2011, 1:40 PM

Post #5 of 11 (5381 views)

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Re: [grammaz] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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We live in Bucerias full time, so can't help you with personal experience. A friend of mine says she has tried both - leaving linens, etc in the drawer or putting them in plastic bags / space bags, with a dryer sheet for a pretty smell.
Either way, she said she felt like she needed to launder the linens anyway before using them. Leave your closet doors open for air circulation, and leave a ceiling fan on low in each room if you have them.
I don't think running the A/C for part of the day will help much, it will just get humid all over again, and possibly the changing from hot to cold willl cause condensation or other extra moisture issues.
I agree, clean and turn off the fridge, leaving the doors open.

hunteradvisor

Mar 26, 2011, 5:24 PM

Post #6 of 11 (5352 views)

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Re: [grammaz] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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We have used www.caretakergazette.com and been super happy. Both times we had many applicants, all qualified and all with great references. Our home was well cared for, plants watered and good security, all in exchange for someone to have a free place to stay. Good Luck!
Isabel
www.RanchoSolyMar.com

almalibre

Apr 15, 2011, 10:26 AM

Post #7 of 11 (4828 views)

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Re: [hunteradvisor] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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We live in Puerto Morelos, just south of Cancun.

We have tried many different tactics and have found that hanging everything possible works the best for clothes etc.

I have a couple of floor fans attached to timers which cut in for an hour or so every morning and move the air around.

We have a caretaker too who keeps an eye on everything and we have the place cleaned once a month to keep bugs at bay.

We unplug our fridge too.

Rob

hunteradvisor

Apr 16, 2011, 10:57 AM

Post #8 of 11 (4733 views)

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Re: [almalibre] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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I have a friend who packs everything into super sized Coleman Coolers and then seals them with duct tape. I found great large, plastic, heavy duty tubs with lids at Home Depot in Pv, no mildew smell whatsoever. This year they only have the lids, no bottoms on the shelf and don't plan to get more in. Too bad, great solution at a low price.

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Isabel
www.RanchoSolyMar.com

rockydog85251

Apr 16, 2011, 11:58 AM

Post #9 of 11 (4721 views)

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Re: [hunteradvisor] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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We had friends that used to winter in Mazatlan & when they would leave for the brutal, humid summers.....they purchased plastic trash barrels, then put all their stuff into large, heavy duty garbage bags, place then in the receptacles & taped the lids on. When they returned 5-6 mos. later - no odors, no mildrew......just like when they left. Very reasonably priced solutions & they used them for packing when they left for good.
Willie

mazbook1

Apr 16, 2011, 12:16 PM

Post #10 of 11 (4710 views)

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Re: [rockydog85251] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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I have to laugh at your friend's solution, Willie. That sounds like one of my codo solutions to a problem. However, when you call Mazatlán summers, "…the brutal, humid summers…", you (and everyone reading this) should realize that is purely something "in your head", totally subjective rather than reality. Many, many of us who live here year 'round just don't find it to be true, or if we do, we make the necessary adjustments, e.g., minisplits, to avoid the problem just as anyone NOB living in a humid climate does. The large majority of areas in the U.S. are much hotter than Mazatlán in the summer (it rarely gets above 95F and is most commonly less than 90F).

rockydog85251

Apr 16, 2011, 12:23 PM

Post #11 of 11 (4708 views)

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Re: [mazbook1] Help With Closing Up Condo For the Summer

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You're absolutley right David! As full time residents for over 10 yrs., that's what we did too....but used the mini-split (a WONDERFUL invention) mostly at night and occasionally for siestas. With 13 ceiling fans in the house and ceilings of 17 ft., we were usually pretty comfy and the upper patio always had a great breeze. Now that we are in Comala, we don't have any a/c. Know anyone that wants to buy a restored, 120 yr. old house in Centro?
Willie