Those of us lucky enough to have the flexibility to head to warmer climates during Michigan’s colder months are mobilizing right about now, as ice and snow make their late entrance this winter. Some leave before Christmas, bypassing any possibility of cold weather, but since the end of 2011 was unseasonably warm, the need to flee was not as pressing this past year.

As the unpleasant part of winter moves in, thoughts of spring break and Floridian timeshares are in the air. But don’t forget to take care of things at home before you take off, or you could receive a very unpleasant homecoming.

Before you leave, there are a couple of steps you can take to make sure your home is secure no matter what kind of weather rolls through while you’re out of town:

A common problem is frozen pipes, which can lead to pipes cracking or bursting. The best way to protect your pipes is to have them insulated, which you can either do yourself or hire a professional to do for you. According to Family Home Security, another precaution to take is shutting off the valve to any outdoor faucets you have.

Designate a neighbor or trusted friend in the area to whom you can give a house key, so they can check up on your home regularly while you’re gone. This person can water your plants, run your faucets regularly to help prevent pipe damage, check windows and doors to make sure they’re locked and sealed securely, turn on the lights periodically to dissuade thieves from trying to take advantage of an empty home, and check on your security system for you, if you have one.

Another detail to attend to is the state of your external windows and doors. You’ll want to make sure you don’t have any cracks or improperly-applied sealant that can lead to drafts. And you’ll want to make sure everything locks securely–you don’t want to leave your home vulnerable to thieves or small animals.

If you have a home security system, check in with the security company to let them know when you’ll be gone, for how long, and whether or not you’ll have someone checking up on your home for you. Also make sure that they have up-to-date contact information, so if they need to contact you while you’re out of town, they can do so.

If you have a chimney, make sure the flue is securely closed, and installing a cover on the top of your chimney is also a good move if you have time.

These are only a handful of the things you should be considering when planning to leave your home unoccupied in the winter, so be sure you do a little more research (and give yourself plenty of time to get everything done before you skip town.) Here are a few places where you can start:
Bob Vila
The Daily Green–19 Easy Home Winterization Projects
Better Homes And Gardens–Winterizing Houses For Extended Absences