G'day all, totally new to this forum and only a youngster, 54 retiring at 2 days before my next birthday to get a 54/11 deal. Never going to be grey, only dusty around the edges!
When everyone goes away on an extended stint into this fantastic country, what do you do with your house? I don't mean turning off the pilot light on the heater/hot water service, but security. I know about notifying the police and all that, but insurance policies and the things like that worry me. And do you rent the place out for the 4 months you are away or find a house sitter? We haven't had any problems with our home squat when we have gone for a month, but retirement means those trips of a lifetime, 4 or 5 months of mud crab, fresh crayfish, salt bush lamb, fresh mango, oysters, paralysis ticks, new bird sightings, and now I am rabbitting on. Rabbit in Dijon Mustard Sauce!
So what are your suggestions, the Father-in-law suggests we screw up the windows, doors etc.
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Never growing old, just getting dusty around the edges.
About 12 months ago I changed insurance companies for our house insurance and this was one of my questions as retirement and longer trips away aren't too far off on the horizon for us either. So long as someone checked (ie walked around and checked doors & windows) once a week our excess would remain the same. If we could not have someone do that then our excess would go up if anything happened. We too will let the police know, have a neighbour check but another thought was to use a security company to do the check weekly. There would then be some record for insurance purposes if the need arose. I have priced them and they were quite inexpensive so we might consider that as an option as well.
Welcome Boothie from me, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I live in a village for over 55's and my next door neighbour goes away for 4 months every winter and I look after his place and he is now returning the favour for me while I am away for at least 3 months.
I have no intention selling as I will not be able to travel around for ever and will need somewhere to live then so my 2 bedroom unit stay's put with my name on it. Everyone's mail goes to the office and remains in there so I have arranged with the office that I ring every Friday arvo and arrange for any mail to be sent to a post office of my choice then I collect it from there, all bills are either direct debit or I pay on-line so I think everything is sorted. It's working so far anyway.
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
We have a neighbour who keeps a general eye on the place and he parks one of their cars in our driveway to give the place an occupied look. We are insured with NRMA insurance and we have to notify them that we are going away for any period over 60 days. We have to pay a small premium on our insurance to cover the extended time we are away.
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If there is such a thing as a tourist season.... why cant we shoot them?
Welcome to the forum Boothie we have gone away a number of times for 3-4 months and always advise our insurance company also have our mail diverted to Daughters or held by post till our return, we also pay one of the young people in the street to pick up local papers and mow the grass at regular intervals he also does a check of windows and doors with family checking also, one of our the family also move my wife's car to different positions in the drive and so far we have not had a problem.
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Life was meant to be enjoyed Australia was meant to be explored
Happily doing both to the Max.
Life is like a camera, focus on what's important & you will capture it every Time
We have used house sitters for our trips of 3-9 months. Have had no problems with ones we got from site where would-be sitters have to pay to register on the site - free for those seeking sitters. I always checked references, chose "mature" couples. Did have problems with one single lady sitter obtained from a free-to-list seniors site (her refs checked out, but she'd concealed a medical problem that caused hassles for us). Wouldn't use that sort of site again.
Sitters look after garden, forward mail etc.
Some forums have sections where you can look for sitters.
Check with your insurance company as if the house is unoccupied for more thn 2months some companies will tell you that your insurance is not valid if you have a claim.We were told this when we enquirer prior to an extended trip!
Thanks for all those ideas,I remember seeing a movie where the guy set up a cardboard cut out of Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry pointing a 44 Magnum at the front door and a tape of dogs barking triggered by movement. I have also been rabbit hunting on farms where the farmer has warned me about the locations of his wombat traps, 12 gauge set up in a hole of a fence. MMM. Thinking..........No, not an answer!
I think a safe deposit box with all our valuable documents, missusses jewels, gold ingots and the like would also be applicable. I know the local security guys and could probably organise something with them. Not having any family within 200ks is a problem and I would like to consider house sitters but have heard some bad experiences. If anyone has any experiences or advice on house sitters, i would really appreciate it.
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Never growing old, just getting dusty around the edges.
The technology to set up cameras in and around your house wirelessly connected to a computer which you can log into and view with your smart phone is available and not too expensive.
I've heard of a few people doing it themselves and certainly could be set up professionally.
