Denver Home Free guide
The Colorado Home Departure Checklist
Leaving a Colorado home empty for a week, a season, or the whole winter? Work through this in order. It covers the things that are specific to us: freeze dates, sprinkler blowouts, hail, snow rules, and dry air.
Oct–Apr
May–Sep
All
Print / save PDF
Start over
Pick the months you're leaving and the list trims to what applies. Your checkmarks stay on this device.
Colorado numbers worth knowing
Oct 7 Denver's average first freeze. The earliest on record was September 8.
24–48 hrs Typical deadline to clear sidewalks after snow ends, depending on your city.
30 days The longest USPS Hold Mail can run.
30–60 days When many insurers start treating a home as unoccupied.
Book home watch visits. Colorado Weekly or every-other-week checks are typical. In cold months, ask for an extra visit after any hard freeze.Line up snow removal for your driveway and walks.Oct–Apr Colorado Most metro cities expect sidewalks cleared within about 24 hours after snow ends (Castle Rock allows 48 hours after 2+ inches). Fines, roughly $25 to $300 depending on the city, come to you even when you're away.Arrange lawn care and watering while you're gone.May–Sep Colorado Check your water provider's watering-day rules, and have someone confirm every sprinkler zone actually runs.Book your HVAC tune-up if it's due. Colorado Furnace before the heating season, A/C or evaporative cooler before summer. Front Range dust and dry air clog filters quickly.Schedule the repairs you've been putting off. Colorado Start with drips, a tired sump pump, and any roof or hail damage. Small problems grow fast when nobody is home to see them.Confirm security monitoring is active and know who has access. Call your insurer about an extended absence. Colorado Many policies limit coverage once a home has been unoccupied for 30 to 60 days, and some require the heat kept on. Also ask about your wind and hail deductible, which in Colorado is often a percentage of the home's value.Refill prescriptions and stock up on household supplies. Hold or forward your mail, and pause deliveries. Colorado USPS Hold Mail runs 3 to 30 days and can be scheduled up to 30 days ahead. For longer, file a temporary change of address or have someone collect it. Pause packages and subscriptions too. A pile on the porch tells everyone you're gone.Tell a trusted neighbor or your HOA you'll be away, and who has access. Arrange pool, hot tub, pest control, or cleaning services if needed. Colorado A hot tub left running can freeze and crack if the power goes out during a cold snap. Drain or winterize it if you're gone for the season.Install or test smart sensors for temperature, water leaks, and power loss. Colorado Set the low-temperature alert near 50°F so you hear about a failed furnace before your pipes do.
Have your sprinkler system blown out.Oct–Apr Colorado Denver's average first freeze is around October 7, and it has arrived as early as early September. Blowout companies fill up in the fall, so book early.Disconnect and drain your hoses.Oct–Apr Colorado Even frost-free spigots can freeze if a hose is left attached.Winterize your swamp cooler: drain it and cover it.Oct–Apr Colorado Evaporative coolers are common in older Front Range homes, and their water lines freeze easily.Insulate exposed pipes in the garage, crawlspace, and exterior walls.Oct–Apr Trim trees and shrubs back from the siding and roof. Colorado Heavy, wet Front Range snow snaps weak branches, and a limb on the roof is a leak waiting to happen.Clear gutters and downspouts, and point them away from the foundation. Colorado Much of the Front Range sits on expansive clay soil. Keep runoff moving away from the house.Replace air filters and confirm every vent is open. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace the batteries. Check outdoor lights and motion sensors. Secure patio furniture, umbrellas, and grills. Colorado Chinook winds and spring storms will send loose items into a neighbor's yard or your window.Photograph the roof, siding, and windows so you have a dated baseline.May–Sep Colorado Hail season runs through the summer. If a storm hits while you're away, a before photo makes the claim conversation much easier.Clear pine needles and leaves from the roof, gutters, deck, and the first 5 feet around the foundation.May–Sep Colorado Near the foothills or open space? Also move firewood at least 30 feet from the house and keep grass mowed to 4 inches or less (Colorado State Forest Service).Unplug unused electronics and appliances. Set the thermostat for your season. Colorado Winter: 60°F or higher so the pipes stay safe. Summer: around 78°F.Leave only the essentials on: HVAC, sump pump, refrigerator, alarm, and your Wi-Fi and sensors. Give spare keys and entry codes to your home watch. Walk around every window and door to check the locks and seals.
Would you rather someone else checked?
Denver Home Watch visits are done in person by Ryan, owner of Denver Home. You get a photo report by email right after each visit, and if something looks wrong, whether that's a leak, storm damage, or a door that isn't latched, you hear about it right away. Snow removal is available as an add-on.
Call or text (720) 338-3103
Serving the Denver metro area.
This checklist is general guidance, not legal or insurance advice. Snow rules vary by city and insurance terms vary by policy, so confirm both before you leave.
Where the numbers come from
