Heading south for winter is one of the best decisions you can make as a Minnesotan. But the weeks before departure have a way of getting chaotic — and the tech side of things is easy to neglect until something goes wrong from 1,800 miles away.
This checklist covers everything on the technology side: what to set up for monitoring, what to pause or cancel to avoid paying for things you're not using, and what to leave for whoever is checking on your home. It's the same list I walk through with clients before they head to Arizona or Florida each fall.
Home Monitoring
The first goal is knowing what's happening at your home without being there.
🌡️ Thermostat
- Install and set up a smart thermostat (Ecobee or Nest) with remote app access
- Configure temperature alerts — get notified if the house drops below 60°F
- Set a "away" schedule that keeps the heat on but at a lower setpoint
- Share access with a trusted family member or neighbor so they can also monitor
- Confirm the furnace is serviced before you leave
🌊 Water Leak Sensors
- Place sensors under every sink, near the water heater, by the washing machine, and in the basement
- Confirm sensors are connected to WiFi and sending alerts to your phone
- Test each one before leaving (they have a test button)
- Share alerts with a neighbor or family member who has a key
📡 Cameras and Doorbell
- Install at minimum one indoor camera pointed at main entry points
- Confirm your video doorbell is connected to WiFi and sending motion alerts
- Check that camera recordings are saving to the cloud (not just locally)
- Share camera access with a trusted contact
🚗 Garage Door
- Install a garage door sensor or smart controller (myQ is a good option)
- Confirm you can check door status and close it remotely from the app
- Set up an alert if the door is open for more than 15 minutes
Internet and Router
Your monitoring devices are only as good as your internet connection. You need the router to stay online while you're gone.
- Restart your router before leaving — this clears any accumulated slowdowns
- If possible, plug your router into a smart plug so you can power-cycle it remotely if needed
- Make sure your internet bill is on auto-pay so service doesn't lapse
- Consider setting up remote access to your router app (Eero, Google Home, etc.) so you can check network status from afar
- Write down your WiFi network name and password — leave it with your house contact
Important: If your internet goes down while you're away, all your smart home monitoring goes down with it. Leave your internet provider's number and account info with your house contact so they can call for a restart if needed.
Streaming Subscriptions to Pause or Keep
You're heading to a different home with different TV setup — take a few minutes to sort out what you need and what you don't.
- Netflix, Hulu, Disney+: Keep — these travel with you, work anywhere
- YouTube TV or other live TV service: Check whether your local channels will be available in your destination market — some services restrict local channels by location
- Cable TV at your Minnesota home: Call and put service on seasonal hold if available — most providers offer this and it saves money
- Any free trials that became paid: Now is the time to catch and cancel anything you don't actually use
See our full guide on pausing and managing streaming subscriptions for step-by-step instructions.
Phone Setup for Snowbirding
- Confirm your phone plan works in your destination state without roaming charges (it should on major carriers, but worth verifying)
- Set up call forwarding if you have a landline at home you want to forward to your cell
- Back up your phone before leaving
- Download offline maps for your destination area in case of spotty data coverage
- Make sure emergency contacts in your phone are up to date
The Leave-Behind Sheet for Your House Contact
This is the most important document you can create before leaving. Leave it in a visible spot — kitchen counter, kitchen drawer — for whoever is checking on your home.
📄 What to Include
- Your cell phone number and your spouse's/partner's number
- WiFi network name and password
- Internet provider name and customer service number
- Thermostat app login (or how to manually adjust temperature)
- Where the main water shutoff is located
- Where the circuit breaker panel is located
- Alarm code and monitoring company number
- Garage door code
- Plumber, electrician, HVAC company contacts you trust
- Your location contact info in your destination
Heading Out This Fall? Let's Get Your Home Set Up Right.
I offer a dedicated Snowbird Monitoring setup visit — smart thermostat, leak sensors, garage door sensor, camera review, and a leave-behind sheet — so you can head south with actual peace of mind. Serving Maple Grove, Plymouth, Champlin, and the northwest Twin Cities suburbs.
Call or text: (763) 250-1227 · Mon–Fri 9am–4pm · Sat 9am–1pm