If you spend winters in Broward and summers up north, your condo has two big days a year. One is the day you lock it up. The other is the day you walk back in after five or six months of heat and humidity. A little planning on the first day makes the second one a lot nicer.
Humidity's the main thing to plan around. South Florida summers are hot and wet, with afternoon storms most days from late spring into fall. In a closed unit, that moisture shows up as a musty smell, spots on grout and caulk, and sometimes a film on fabric and leather.
Closing Up in Spring
- Empty the fridge and freezer and wipe them out
- If you unplug the fridge, prop the doors open so it doesn't sour
- Run the dishwasher empty, then leave the door cracked
- Clean the bathrooms well so nothing sits in the grout all summer
- Wipe kitchen counters and cabinets so there's nothing for bugs
- Take out every bit of trash and check under sinks
- Pull bedding and store it in breathable bags or a closet
- Clear the balcony and bring cushions inside
- Ask your building about water shutoff and shutter rules
- Decide on your AC setting and leave it written by the thermostat
Opening Up in the Fall
When you get back, open up and let the AC run for a while before you judge the smell. Then look where moisture hides: shower grout and caulk, under sinks, the inside of closets and the back of the fridge if it was off. If the unit sat with shutters down through hurricane season, expect a layer of dust on sills, tracks and ceiling fans.
This is a good time for a deep clean. You'll have fresh bathrooms, clean baseboards and dust-free fans before guests start coming down for the holidays. If you'd like it done before you arrive, tell us when your flight lands and how to get in through your building, and we'll plan it around that.
A word on the AC. That is your call, and your association may have rules about it. Many owners leave it running while they're away, set to manage humidity rather than to keep the unit cold. A dehumidifier is another option some people add. If you're not sure, ask your building manager or an AC technician what fits your unit.