Snowbird Checklist: Opening Your Sun City Home for the Season

The heat has broken, the golf courses are green and the rec center calendars are filling up. If you are one of the many snowbirds heading back to Sun City or Sun City West for the season, welcome home. A little planning makes the first week back much easier, so here is the checklist we share with our seasonal clients.

Before you leave your summer home

• Call your local key holder or home watch contact and let them know your arrival date.
• Restart deliveries and mail to your Arizona address, including prescriptions.
• Book service visits now if you know you will need them. Air conditioning, pest control and pool companies get busy when everyone comes back at once.
• Pack your recreation card and any club membership details.

Day one: open the house

• Turn the water back on slowly if you shut it off, then run every faucet, shower and toilet for a few minutes.
• Look for leaks under sinks, around the water heater and near the washer. Small drips are easier to fix now than later.
• Turn the water heater back on if you turned it off or set it to vacation mode.
• Run the air conditioning and heat and replace the filter. Desert homes can collect a lot of dust over the summer.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace batteries.
• Air out the house and check the refrigerator, freezer and pantry.

Walk the outside

• Check the roof and gutters for storm damage. Summer monsoon storms can move tiles, loosen flashing and leave debris. Many early Sun City homes have flat roofs, and our flat roof homes guide covers what to look for.
• Test the irrigation system and adjust the timer for cooler weather.
• Look for pests like scorpions, termites and pack rats, especially in the garage and around the golf cart.
• Charge and service the golf cart and check its tires and batteries before your first ride to the rec center.
• Trim plants away from the house and make sure the yard meets your community's deed restrictions. Sun City and Sun City West both ask owners to keep yards neat and free of weeds.

Get back into the fun

The best part of the season is the community. Check what is new at the Recreation Centers of Sun City or the Recreation Centers of Sun City West, sign up for classes early, and reconnect with your clubs. If you need a refresher, our guides to the Sun City recreation centers, Sun City West recreation centers, Sun City golf courses and Sun City West golf courses are a good place to start.

Planning to have the grandkids out for the holidays? Check the guest and youth rules at your recreation center before they arrive, and see our moving to Sun City guide for more on community life.

Plan ahead for when you leave in spring

When it is time to head out again, Sun City residents can sign up for the Sun City Posse's free Vacation Watch program. Volunteers check the outside of your home the day after you leave and about every two weeks after that, and they contact your local key holder if they see a problem. You must be gone at least a week, the home cannot be listed for sale, and the Posse asks for your request at least seven days before you leave. Sun City West residents should check what home watch options are available in their community.

Thinking about your next move?

Some of our clients start as snowbirds and decide to stay year-round. Others decide a smaller, easier home makes more sense, or that it is time to sell. If you are weighing your options, read our Sun City home selling guide, see what your home is worth with a free home valuation, or browse Sun City homes for sale and Sun City West homes for sale. Amy and Tim Nixon are always happy to talk it through. Call or text us at (623) 292-3141.

Frequently asked questions

When do snowbirds usually arrive in Sun City?

Many seasonal residents return in the fall, from October through December, and stay through the cooler months before heading out again in spring.

What should I check first when I open my Sun City home?

Start with safety and comfort: run the air conditioning and check the filter, run every faucet and toilet, look under sinks and around the water heater for leaks, and check for pests and any roof or irrigation problems.

Is there a home watch program in Sun City when I leave?

Yes. The Sun City Posse runs a free Vacation Watch program for Sun City residents who will be away for at least a week. Sign up at least seven days before you leave.

Can I buy a winter home in Sun City or Sun City West?

Yes. Many owners use their home seasonally. At least one occupant must be 55 or older, and recreation center dues apply whether you are here year-round or part-time.

The Nixon Group, Amy & Tim Nixon, real estate agents brokered by My Home Group Real Estate.