Closing Down the Farm Checklist

(Please especially check the highlighted items. Forgetting those runs up the electric bill when no one is here, or are extra important.)

• Housekeeping for next visitors if you have time. If running late, just skip this step
• Change beds as needed.
• Do laundry; dry using dryer or wooden drying rack. (Please don't leave the dryer running when leaving).
• Vacuum, sweep, do dishes, clean bathrooms, etc.
• If time allows, fill bird seed and suet feeders front and back. Fill side hummingbird feeder with hummer food.
• Winter bonus points: Leave kindling and firewood by the wood stove for the next visitor.
• Walk the grounds. Tools put away? All gates closed securely? Outbuilding doors closed (and locked, especially the pump house)?
• If you've used the guesthouse, leave:
• Both guesthouse heaters ON, and temp set to "snowflake".
• All guesthouse lights off - including outside porch light.
• Nonslip mat in the guesthouse tub hung up someplace - so it doesn't mold.
• Anything unintentionally left behind in the guesthouse - chargers, phone cords, tooth brush, slippers, etc?
• Guesthouse door locked.
• At garage breaker box, turn (or leave) OFF breaker for guest water heater (marked with a black arrow on white tape). All other garage breakers should be ON.
• Make sure the large electric overhead garage door, which opens to the dirt road running down past the property, is completely closed and has shut itself off.. The large white push button, which opens and closes the overhead door, is just inside the garage red side door. Occasionally the door closes part way but then reopens because something (a cobweb, a weed, a box, whatever) broke the safety light-beam that runs along the bottom of the door.
• Turn off garage lights (two switches just inside side door). Lock garage red side door - easiest to do from the inside, then just slam door behind you.
• Unplug hot tub. If no one else is showing up right away, please drain the hot tub..
• At main house breaker box, turn (or leave) OFF breaker for water heater (#34, marked with a black arrow on white tape) and #32 (fireplace). All other breakers ON.
• Nonslip mat in the master bathroom shower hung up, and the mat just outside of the shower door hung up (so they don't mold).
• Turn heat pump thermostat to HOLD, FAN:AUTO, SYSTEM:HEAT, HEAT SETTING:50. (During the summer it's ok to just leave the thermostat set to OFF.)
• Wood stove door securely shut.
• TV off. DENNON receiver in cupboard under tv turned off.
• Desktop computer powered down.
• Kitchen gas stove - all burners off.
• Outside grill gas supply turned off.
• All 7 keys back on key hanger.
• Leave washer front door slightly open (the bottom door)- so washing machine dries.
• If you've used the dishwasher, leave the dishwasher door open.
• Take any food in fridge that will go bad.
• Fridge and freezer doors securely closed.
• Take garbage and recycling home with you.
• Food waste in large black barrel or compost bin.
• All fans off. (Fan under microwave, fan in kitchen bathroom, fan in master bathroom, fan above shower in master bathroom, fan in kid bathroom)
• No water running (toilets, faucets, etc).
• All electric wall heaters turned all the way off (counter clockwise). (One in bunk bedroom, one in double bed room, one in master bathroom, one in master bedroom, one in dining room)
• All lights off (except the ones "taped" on)
• All doors locked (except the front door) (Don't forget the bunk bedroom)
• Check for mail in mailbox. Leave any on diningroom table.
• One last walk around the inside of the house - everything look ok? Anything running? Anything unintentionally left behind - chargers, phone cords, etc? All 7 keys hanging on key holder? Any of your keys left hanging there?
• Lock front door electronic deadbolt (just push the Schlage button, then lock the deadbolt by turning it clockwise). Once light stop blinking, make sure deadbolt just spins, and try opening door to make sure it's locked.
• Close the front gate. Sometimes the latch on the front gate doesn't close all the way, letting the gate blow open a little later. When you close the gate from the driveway side, please push the latch handle so the latch completely closes and give the gate a shake or two to make sure it's securely closed. (Lately I've started bungie-ing the gate so it doesn't blow open while no one is there.)

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