Owners winterize summer homes

Security a high priority for many

The days before Lorraine Fitas leaves her town of Rome summer home for Arizona aren't completely laid back.

The end of summer means closing her home on Lake Arrowhead for the winter. And the process requires more than a little cleanup.

“My husband and I have always had someone help close the house up at the end of summer; that has helped a lot,” Fitas said. “To close it up, they blow out all the pipes so no water will freeze, put antifreeze in the plumbing fixtures and turn off the electric.” At $100, the price is worth Fitas' peace of mind.

Fitas also counts on a neighbor and her town leaders to watch over her home while she's away. With nearly half of its 2,500 dwellings considered seasonal, according to census data, the town of Rome sends officers to patrol neighborhoods on a town register, said Clerk Terri Anderson.

The Marathon County Sheriff's Department does not have a formal registry, but it checks on its share of summer homes at the request of homeowners, said Lt. Fred Goch.

In addition to arranging for someone to keep an eye on a home, people should be sure to remove valuables and avoid storing guns or weapons in the vacant home, Goch said.

Another option for homeowners is a security system.

“Summer homes and cottages tend to make security a priority because they are often sitting ducks,” said Jane Whitt, general manager for Horgan Sales & Service in Stevens Point. “They make attractive targets because they are frequently secluded and vacant.

“Ironically, the same qualities that make the location seem peaceful can also make the home and its residents more vulnerable.”

Horgan Sales' alarm systems protect hundreds of homes throughout central Wisconsin, Whitt said. Prices vary depending on the services but start between $800 and $1,000.

“People coming here from larger cities generally tend to be a little more security conscious,” Whitt said. “However, all too often owners decide to protect their homes after suffering some type of invasion by burglars or vandals.”

With today's more sophisticated alarm systems, it's more than about protecting against burglars, Whitt said.

“The homeowner or neighbor can be notified when the building temperature drops too low or a power outage or water problem is detected ... giving owners the chance to avoid costly losses,” Whitt said.

(By Antoinette Rahn, Central Wisconsin Sunday -- Sept. 7, 2003)

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