Closing up for the quiet season
Some rentals close for part of the year; others simply have long gaps between stays. Either way, an empty home needs a plan, or it will not be ready when the next guest arrives.
Protect the home while it is empty
- In cold climates, agree with your heating engineer on a minimum temperature or a frost setting, and on how to protect exposed pipes and outdoor taps.
- Empty and clean the fridge; leave its door ajar if it is switched off.
- Store outdoor cushions, parasols and anything light enough to blow away.
- Remove food that could attract pests, and check for any gaps where they could enter.
- Ask your insurer whether an unoccupied home has particular conditions, such as regular visits.
Visits while it is closed
Agree on who checks the home, how often, and what they look at: leaks, damp, heating, post, signs of entry. Ask for a short message after each visit, with a photo if anything has changed.
Use the quiet time for bigger work
The quiet season is the moment for jobs that are impossible between stays: painting, replacing a kitchen worktop, redoing a bathroom seal, sanding a floor. Book tradespeople early; good ones are busy in the off-season too.
Review the past season
Read through reviews, statements and the maintenance log with your manager. What did guests praise, what did they mention more than once, what kept breaking? Decide on the improvements for next year while the memory is fresh.
Plan the reopening
Schedule a deep clean, a test of every appliance and system, and a restock a little before the first booking. See preparing for high season for the full routine.