Discussions

For those of you who leave your homes during the winter for warmer climates, how much on average do you pay for someone to look in on your house/ take in the mail etc . Do you pay per visit/week or per season? Do you use a company or a trusted friend? I realize each insurance company has different requirements.

We usually use friends. Come in once/twice a week. We get snow removal...  
we usually give them a gift card from one of the grocery store/ Canadian Tire or princess Auto.

Even if you have someone checking your house always turn the water off at the meter and drain your lines. As a retired plumber there was many times a house sitter would call about burst water lines and a flood. Or a hot water tank springing a leak and flooding. House sitter would say everything was fine a couple days ago when I checked.  
Furnace since quit or hwt springs a leak. Save your self and your house sitter some grief and always turn your water off.

some people have people house sitting physically in the house while they are gone. other people I know have their neighbours check on things once a week to water plants, cat, etc.  
If you need a winter house sitter its good to check at local churches for people needing a place to stay or whatnot.

You should check with insurance co as some insurance companies require that your house be checked every day in winter mos. and every 3 days in summer.

Read your house insurance policy. Some say your house needs to be checked daily (fine print).

Thanks for all replies. We have been going away for a while so know the routine...I was just curious as to how much other people pay for this service.

We have done two options. We had a friend come in and check in on him daily and we paid them $300 a month which was $10 a day.  
 
We’ve also had a friend move right in. In which case we paid the bills. And they provided the snow shovelling etc.