Before You Leave Your Puerto Rico Home

Use this before extended travel or seasonal vacancy.

The goal is not to make the home maintenance-free. The goal is to reduce avoidable surprises, clarify who can act, and create a documented baseline before the property is left alone.

1. Water, moisture, and interior condition

• ✓Check under sinks, toilets, laundry areas, mechanical rooms, water heater areas, and any known moisture-prone spaces.
• ✓Document prior ceiling stains, wall discoloration, swollen trim, musty odors, or rooms that historically hold humidity.
• ✓Confirm whether any water supply lines should be shut off during an extended absence, based on the home's systems and owner preferences.
• ✓Confirm dehumidifiers, condensate drains, HVAC drain lines, and vulnerable enclosed rooms are functioning as expected where applicable.
• ✓Remove trash, open food, and perishables that could create odors, pests, or mold during vacancy.

2. Power, generator, solar, and major systems

• ✓Confirm generator fuel level, auto-start settings, transfer switch readiness, service status, and vendor access for emergency support.
• ✓Confirm cistern level, pump operation, pressure behavior, and visible leaks around valves, tanks, or equipment.
• ✓Confirm solar, inverter, and battery system status if applicable, including monitoring app access and vendor contact information.
• ✓Decide what should remain powered: refrigerators, freezers, HVAC zones, security equipment, internet, pumps, and monitoring devices.
• ✓Empty or manage refrigerators/freezers if the home will be vacant long enough for outage-related spoilage to become a risk.
• ✓Consider surge protection or shutdown strategy for sensitive electronics, appliances, and equipment.

3. Roof, exterior, and storm exposure

• ✓Clear roof drains, scuppers, gutters, terrace drains, and low spots where debris or standing water could accelerate leaks.
• ✓Look for loose sealant, cracked roof coating, ponding water, parapet staining, clogged drains, or early signs of water intrusion.
• ✓Secure outdoor furniture, umbrellas, planters, decor, grills, cushions, and loose items that could shift or become wind hazards.
• ✓Trim branches near roofs, solar panels, walls, utility lines, windows, and exterior equipment.
• ✓Confirm shutters, panels, impact openings, or storm-preparation vendors before there is an active storm threat.

4. Pool, landscaping, and pest control

• ✓Confirm pool service schedule, water level, pump operation, chemical condition, and vendor access instructions.
• ✓Confirm irrigation schedule, controller settings, landscaper access, and expectations for overgrowth while the owner is away.
• ✓Confirm pest-control schedule and check door seals, screens, vents, garage openings, attic access, and exterior penetrations.
• ✓Remove standing water sources, exposed pet food, open pantry items, and exterior debris that can attract pests.

5. Security, access, and emergency protocol

• ✓Confirm locks, alarm status, camera status, exterior lighting, gate operation, access codes, remotes, and key locations.
• ✓Create a current emergency contact list: owner, local contact, security, HOA/admin, insurer, key vendors, and property access contact.
• ✓Define who can authorize urgent work and set a dollar threshold for routine, urgent, and owner-approval-required items.
• ✓Clarify what happens after a major outage, heavy rain event, security alert, or storm: who checks the property and how quickly.
• ✓Address mail, packages, deliveries, vehicles, storage areas, and any staff or family access expectations.

6. Access, vendors, and emergency contacts

Before leaving, make sure the right people can access the property, reach the correct vendors, and respond quickly if an issue comes up.

• ✓Save current contact information for pool, landscaping, pest control, generator, HVAC, plumbing, roofing, solar, electrical, security, and cleaning vendors.
• ✓Confirm who has keys, gate access, alarm instructions, remotes, access codes, and emergency entry instructions.
• ✓Remove or update access for vendors, staff, or prior service providers who should no longer enter the property.
• ✓Identify the primary local contact if the owner is unavailable.
• ✓Decide in advance who should be contacted first and what level of urgent repair, if any, may be authorized before the owner is reached.
• ✓Keep insurance information, utility account numbers, HOA/admin contacts, and key vendor records accessible.
• ✓Take baseline photos of important areas before departure: roof, exterior walls, mechanical rooms, pool, generator area, major interiors, and any known problem spots.