Snowbird checklist: 40 things to do before you head south

Every experienced snowbird has a story about the thing they forgot: the prescription that ran out in week three, the frozen pipe back home, the car title sitting in a drawer 1,300 miles away. This checklist is built to prevent those stories. It’s 40 tasks, grouped by when to do them, from eight weeks before you leave to your first week in Miami. Print it, tick it off, and adjust it to your own life.

How to use this checklist

• Start early. Eight weeks sounds like a lot, but healthcare, housing and car shipping all go more smoothly with lead time.
• Share it. If an adult child, neighbor or friend is helping, give them a copy and decide who handles what.
• Skip what doesn’t apply. Renters can ignore owner tasks, and if you’re driving down you won’t need to book a car carrier.

If you haven’t yet decided where to stay or for how long, start with the complete guide to becoming a Miami snowbird and come back here once your dates are set.

Eight weeks out: the big decisions

These are the tasks with the longest lead times.

1. Lock in your dates. Choose arrival and departure dates that fit your lease, the weather and family plans. Our guide to when to arrive and when to leave explains which weeks get crowded.
2. Confirm your Miami housing in writing. Get a signed lease with dates, deposit, what’s included (utilities, internet, parking) and the building’s rules on guests and move-in times. Still looking? See how to find a seasonal rental in Miami.
3. Set your season budget. Housing, travel, car, two sets of bills and day-to-day spending. Our snowbird budget guide walks through it.
4. Call your health plan. Ask how coverage works in Miami. Original Medicare works with providers anywhere in the U.S. that accept it; Medicare Advantage plans usually have local networks, though they must cover emergency and urgent care nationwide. Ask whether your plan has a visitor or travel benefit.
5. Check the six-month line. If you’re on Medicare Advantage and will be out of your plan’s service area for more than six months in a row, you can generally be disenrolled. Talk to your plan or a Medicare counselor before you go.
6. See your doctors. Schedule checkups, dental cleanings and any tests before you leave, and ask each doctor how to reach them from Florida.
7. Plan your prescriptions. Ask your pharmacy or mail-order provider how to handle a season away, and check how your Part D plan treats Florida pharmacies. Request vacation supplies early if your plan allows them.
8. Decide how your car gets south. Drive, ship or rent. If you’re shipping, book early, because carriers are busiest in late fall. Our guide to shipping your car to Florida compares the options.
9. Check your ID. If you’re flying, make sure your license is REAL ID compliant, or plan to carry your passport. Renew anything that expires during your stay.
10. Talk to a tax professional if residency is on your mind. If you’re thinking of making Florida your legal home, or splitting time carefully between states, get advice now. Our guide to Florida residency and the 183-day rule explains the basics.

Four weeks out: set up the systems

Now you set up the things that keep both homes running while you’re away.

11. Forward your mail. A USPS temporary change of address can run from 15 days up to just under a year. Online requests carry a small identity-verification fee; the paper form at the post office is free. Pick a start date a few days before you leave.
12. Go paperless. Switch as many statements and bills as you can to email, so less depends on forwarding.
13. Put recurring bills on autopay. Utilities, insurance, property taxes, credit cards, subscriptions. Note each one on a single list.
14. Tell your bank and card companies. Many no longer need travel notices, but confirm, and make sure your phone number and email on file are current so fraud alerts reach you.
15. Call your homeowners insurer. Ask what the policy requires when a home is unoccupied for months: regular inspections, heat kept on, water shut off. Get the answer in writing if you can.
16. Line up a house checker. A neighbor, family member or paid home-watch service to walk through regularly, especially after storms and cold snaps. Our guide to protecting your northern home covers what they should check.
17. Install remote monitoring. A smart Wi-Fi thermostat lets you watch the temperature from Miami, and water leak detectors near the water heater and under sinks can alert your phone before a small drip becomes a ceiling.
18. Arrange snow removal and yard care. A driveway and walk that stay clear make the house look lived-in and keep your checker safe.
19. Pause or adjust services. Newspaper, gym, cable or streaming you won’t use up north. Some providers offer seasonal holds.
20. Book travel. Flights, or hotels along your driving route. Avoid arriving during the busiest event weeks if you can.

The last week: pack and secure

21. Pack medications in your carry-on, with a printed list of every medication, dose and prescribing doctor.
22. Make a document folder. Insurance cards, a copy of your ID and passport, your lease, car registration and insurance, and your list of accounts and autopays. Keep a digital copy too.
23. Carry a short medical summary. Conditions, allergies, recent procedures and your doctors’ contact details, in case you need care here.
24. Set lamp timers. Simple plug-in outlet timers on a lamp or two help the house look occupied in the evenings.
25. Clear the fridge and take out the trash. Unplug small appliances you won’t need.
26. Leave a key and your itinerary with your house checker or a trusted neighbor, along with how to reach you.
27. Hold or redirect deliveries. Make sure no packages are scheduled to arrive at your northern address.
28. Confirm the car. If it’s being shipped, confirm the pickup date and empty it of personal items. If you’re driving, get it serviced.

The day you leave

29. Set the thermostat to the temperature your insurer or heating contractor recommended. Low, never off.
30. Shut off the main water supply, or at least water to the washing machine and outside spigots, if your insurer and plumber agree it’s right for your home.
31. Lock every door and window, including the garage and basement.
32. Turn on your timers and check that your monitoring apps are working.
33. Do a final walk-through with your checklist and your phone’s camera. Photos of each room are handy for any insurance claim.
34. Text your house checker that you’re on your way and confirm the date of their first visit.

Your first week in Miami

35. Check in with your building or landlord. Get your parking pass, fobs and keys, ask about guest rules, and note the property manager’s contact details.
36. Get connected. Confirm internet and any utilities you’re responsible for are on and in your name.
37. Find your nearest urgent care and hospital. Save the addresses and check they take your coverage. Our guide to finding a doctor and managing healthcare as a snowbird can help.
38. Transfer or fill prescriptions at a nearby pharmacy if you need to, before you run low.
39. Stock up. Groceries, sunscreen, a light jacket for cold-front evenings, and basic supplies.
40. Learn the basics of your area. Where the closest grocery store, pharmacy and hardware store are, how traffic flows at rush hour, and any building rules about hurricanes or storms. Hurricane season ends November 30, so if you arrive in early November, know where your building’s emergency information is posted.

A note on Florida paperwork

Most seasonal visitors don’t need a Florida driver’s license or Florida car registration. Those requirements apply once you establish Florida residency: the state’s motor vehicle agency says new residents must get a Florida license within 30 days. If you’re planning that change, read our residency guide and talk to a tax professional before you start.

Before you head home in spring

The same list works in reverse. Around six weeks before your departure, book your car’s trip north, set your mail forwarding end date, give your landlord notice as your lease requires, and let your house checker know when you’ll be back. Our guide on when to arrive and when to leave explains why most snowbirds head north by early May.