It’s way too cold outside!
In South Florida, once the temperature dips below 75 degrees, we think winter. Really? Truly. That is the magic number for breaking out the sweaters. It’s ok to laugh. We laugh at ourselves. We can honestly shiver the first time we feel temps below 80. Send temps into the 40s, and you’ll see giant frozen iguanas falling from trees, and us and our pets decked out head to toe for arctic winter. Humans aren’t the only ones who get acclimated to the tropics!
If you relish the opportunity to open all the windows without getting a blast of heat and humidity; if you truly love “al fresco” dining… yes, “al fresco” dining not “al sweltering and overheating” dining, then this is a fantastic time of year! Winter in South Florida is absolutely glorious. There’s a reason we call it bragging season! It’s tempting to just enjoy the weather and to be outside as much as you can.
For absentee homeowners with experienced property managers, the Florida winter also brings a number of opportunities: this is the time we prepare their homes for summer. Let me say that again: for summer…
Here are a few tricks of the trade. Doing these tasks during winter will save you money in the short and long run, AND serve you well before the heat and humidity of summer become overwhelming and/or give way to hurricane preparations.
The TBR Property Management’s SAGER Winter for Summer To-Do List:
- Winter marks the beginning of the dry season. You will need to water the lawn more often, and water IS expensive. Here are some steps that take little time but that could save more than a fistful of dollars: Run the sprinkler system manually, observing every station. Walk around and look for obviously dry areas and/or places where the water pools. Check the sprinkler heads to make sure that water flows freely, covering the designated area. It is worthwhile to get qualified help.
- Have the air conditioner units checked. During winter, Florida A/C techs are not as busy. This translates to prompt service and better prices for you. A/C equipment that is maintained is able to stand higher humidity and temperatures. As a result, they last longer. If there is a need to get new parts, they are often discounted.
- Clean the gutters. In fact, this should be done quite regularly. Our winter brings more debris than we think.
- Your South Florida Winter Checklist must also include Exterior Electrical Repairs. Because it is our dry season, winter is the ideal time to take care of outdoor electrical repairs. The frequent downpours during our summer make it very difficult to schedule electrical work outside and the homeowner may have to wait days if not weeks even to get minor repairs taken care of.
- Have a look at the roof, or hire a professional to do so. Roof repairs that strengthen and prep your home for hurricane season are never a waste of money.
If it seems like a lot, don’t be overwhelmed. Just remember to be S-A-G-E-R, as in smarter or wiser. SAGER: Sprinklers; Air Conditioning; Gutters; Exterior Electric, and Roof.
By making our Winter for Summer to-do list a priority, you’ll avoid getting caught with issues that with a little time can easily be resolved and can save you significant amounts of money. Be Sager. 😉
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