Maintaining a Home When Away - 7 Top Tips

Home and pet owners all over the planet worry about maintaining a home and pets when they travel away from home. What do you do? As HouseSit Match customers have discovered housesitting is an excellent and very affordable solution to the security as well as the pet and home maintenance issues that will occur in your absence. Read on to learn our seven top tips on how to manage your pets and property while you are on holiday.

7 Essential Tips for Maintaining a Home When Away

what is a housesit — Housesitters can give homeowners peace of mind

Are you heading out for a vacation or a longer absence from your home? Then you’re probably focusing on packing and planning. But hold up! Have you thought about how to keep your beloved home safe and sound while you’re away? There is some preparation involved in maintaining a home when you are away.

Leaving your house for an extended period requires some prep so that you don’t come back to a disaster. Here’s how to keep your castle cozy, safe, and well-maintained, even when you’re miles away.

1. Keep It Under Wraps – Don’t broadcast that you’re away

The first rule of leaving your house unattended is to not make it obvious. Why? Because an empty house is like a flashing neon sign for burglars. So, how can you make it look lived-in? Easy. Invest in some timers for your lights – they can turn on and off at different times, mimicking the patterns of a bustling household.

Also, pausing mail and newspaper deliveries stops a pile-up that screams, “Hey, we’re not home!” It’s all about keeping things low-key to deter prying eyes.

2. Let the Waterworks Rest

maintaining a home means keeping the kitchen clean and functional — Turn off your water mains if there is no one staying in the property

Photo by Andrea Davis

Water damage is a real party pooper, and coming home to it can be heart-wrenching. So, before you dash out the door, turn off your main water supply. Why bother? Because leaks happen, and they don’t wait until you’re home to cause trouble.

Imagine a burst pipe freely jazzing up your floors and walls with water – not a pretty sight. Shutting off the water can save you from monumental clean-up jobs and the agony of ruined belongings. It’s a simple move with powerful peace-of-mind payoffs.

3. Power Down to Power Up Savings

Turning off and unplugging non-essential electrical devices before leaving is a genius move. Why, you ask? First, it slashes your energy bill. There’s no sense in paying for electricity you’re not even using. Second, it’s a solid safety move.

Appliances left on can overheat or short-circuit, potentially exciting the fire department. So, give your gadgets a break and your wallet a little padding by powering down.

4. Fix Broken Appliances Before You Exit

Leaving home with a broken appliance might seem like a problem you can deal with later, but here’s why you should rethink that: it’s a ticking time bomb for bigger issues. For instance, a fridge with a faulty seal not only hikes up your energy bill but could spoil all your food, leaving a mess and potential health hazard.

Or a leaking washing machine that decides to turn your laundry room into a mini lake while you’re soaking up the sun. The why is simple—it’s all about prevention.

Calling the pros to fix appliances before you jet off is critical. They have the know-how to nip problems in the bud, so that your home runs smoothly in your absence. So, when in doubt, fix it to forget it!

5. Buddy Up with a Neighbor

Having a neighbor keep an eye on your place is like upgrading to home security platinum without the price tag. Why is this a game changer?

Firstly, they can spot and report anything fishy, keeping threats to your home’s safety at bay. Secondly, they can do simple tasks like taking out the trash or watering plants, making your home look attended to. It’s about creating a sense of presence and activity that keeps unwanted attention at bay.

6. Invest in Home Security

choosing home alarm systems — You need to find a system that works for your home and your needs

Photo courtesy of the blowup

In this day and age, security is an important factor in maintaining a home when you travel away. Beefing up your home security with some smart tech is a no-brainer. Cameras, alarm systems, and motion sensors can be your electronic watchdogs, scaring off would-be intruders and alerting you to any unwelcome activity.

Why is this crucial? Because it keeps your home locked down tight, even when you’re kicking back on a beach somewhere. In the unfortunate event something goes awry, having footage or an alarm system can also help in the aftermath. It’s a layer of protection that acts as both deterrent and detective, making it a top tip for peace of mind.

7. Find House Sitters

Join as a home and pet owner to find live in house sitters. House sitters can be key to maintaining a home in your absence, and for no cost if you join the house sitting platform HouseSit Match they will also care for your pets and garden while you are away, in exchange for free accommodation.

It’s a win win!

Enhance a front yard with a tidy arrangement of pots — House sitters can help you by maintaining your home and garden while you are away

Photo by Lamia Walker

Joining HouseSit Match as a home and pet owner is a straightforward process:

Register as a homeowner pet owner on HouseSit Match.
Complete the ID check for added credibility and trustworthiness.
Build your profile to showcase your pets, and home.
Offer your dog sits by posting a housesit advert and listing and connect with pet sitters.
Embark on an exciting journey as a member of this community meeting and working with pet sitters and live in house sitters.

Starting as live in house sitters

artists stroking a dog near his drawing easel — House sitters can care for your pets and keep them safe and happy at home while you are away

Photo by Maria Orlova

If you love pets and fancy trying house sitting, consider joining as a house and pet sitter. Becoming a house and pet sitter on this housesitting and petsitting platform is a straightforward process:

Register as a house sitter and pet sitter on HouseSit Match.
Complete the ID check for added credibility and trustworthiness.
Build your profile to showcase your experience and reliability.
Apply for dog sits across the housesit listings and connect with homeowners and pet owners.
Embark on an exciting journey as a trusted house sitter caring for pets and especially dogs.