Companies who take care of your house while you leave for an extended period of time

[kitkat64 461]

Hi all. I searched the forum but didn't find anything (mostly because I have no idea what to search for). Here's my situation:

 

My husband got a job offer in the USA for an undetermined period of time (can be 6 months, can be 3 years).

We own our own house near Munich. We do not want to rent it or have a house sitter.

We have a fairly large yard/garden (grass, bushes, etc.) as well as numerous house plants and a pool that must be tended to.

An empty house should also have someone coming around to flush the toilets, run the water in the sinks/etc.

 

Is there such a thing as a company who comes to take care of these things? I know we can hire someone to mow the grass on a regular basis, but the rest of the house stuff?

 

Thanks for your help!

[HH_Sailor 3,624]

Please check your insurance policies.

You will probably find that they will be invalid if the house is not "inhabited"

 

So no contents insurance and even worse, no building insurance.

[kitkat64 461]

23 minutes ago, HH_Sailor said:

Please check your insurance policies.

 

Good idea. I will ask.  Thanks!

[catjones 1,691]

Probably the most important task is Winter.  Before I leave my place, I drain the potable and heating water lines and turn off the boiler.  While I could get a smart wifi thermostat, I figure the power will go out on the coldest day of the year and then what?  Once a water line breaks and you're overseas, there's not much you can do in time.  I hire someone to shovel the snow, but I'm back in time for the lawn.

I also call my ISP and go on "vacation mode" which reduces my rate considerably.  All my utilities are online.  Since you'll be in another country, mail will be an issue.  While I do have an outdoor and an indoor light on a timer, my neighbors are the best, so they keep an eye on things.

As far as the "uninhabited" note, when you go on vacation your house is uninhabited or go to work or go shopping.  I've never called my insurance company to let them know....in fact, the fewer who know, the better.

[optimista 5,885]

7 hours ago, kitkat64 said:

... or have a house sitter.

 

Surely, a highly selective choice of single lady of a certain age would solve a lot of problems. An empty house is bad news, possibly a target and at best a worry. The Church of the Ascension in Harlaching, Munich comes to mind. English-speaking episcopal gang. Christians looking for a mission, if you are lucky. Maybe you could find a good soul from the congregation who would do the necessary for a negotiated sum ? Or one of your existing neighbours ?

[snowingagain 5,354]

19 minutes ago, optimista said:

 

Surely, a highly selective choice of single lady of a certain age would solve a lot of problems. An empty house is bad news, possibly a target and at best a worry. The Church of the Ascension in Harlaching, Munich comes to mind. English-speaking episcopal gang. Christians looking for a mission, if you are lucky. Maybe you could find a good soul from the congregation who would do the necessary for a negotiated sum ? Or one of your existing neighbours ?

I read that at first thinking you had some wild story about the Church of the Ascencion targetting empty houses for shenanigans and worse.  There again that might be right. 

[optimista 5,885]

In der Tat... 

[Metall 14,539]

Why isn't a house sitter OK for you?

[RedMidge 6,638]

Some years ago, a friend asked me to do daily checks on her empty house, as she was away for 3 weeks. 

I checked daily- at different times, watered plants, pottered in garden etc. 

The day before she returned- burgled!  Police thought that thieves had been checking for people away, and watching.

Intermittent checking does not always work. For an extended period of absence, you should consider a House Sitter. 

There are companies who  arrange for a house sitter, check references etc. There are people wmho are happy to sit for extended periods. Maybe between rentals, maybe their source of income.

Your Insurance will be affected if left empty.

Search for House Sitters on line.

[fraufruit 42,165]

I had a friend who used to housesit for us because she had a very small place and enjoyed the space and amenities. Never paid her but always brought her a nice gift. She also took care of our cat. 

 

Another year, we had a sub-renter in with the understanding that she would have to leave if we had to come home. It worked out great and we got some of our rent paid while away. She had an excellent recommendation from a friend of mine.

 

We stopped our mail last year when we were away for 4 months. No problem. 

 

Of course, we are in a flat and not a separate house. 

[optimista 5,885]

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/?msclkid=95f7c424fbb31ddf2d51a7ff02fba366&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=New%20%7C%20Europe%20High%20%7C%20Brand&utm_term=trustedhousesitters&utm_content=Brand_Exact

[Metall 14,539]

Some veteran TTers do house sitting, too.