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Key points
- An empty home deteriorates: someone needs to check it regularly, even out of season.
- Water damage found a week before guests arrive can cost you the first bookings of the season.
- Insurance pays for the repairs, not for the nights you lose.
- The off-season is the time to reset everything: deep clean, inventory, small repairs.
When the season ends, many owners lock the door and forget about it until spring. That is often when the nasty surprises begin. An empty home does not look after itself: a leak, a storm or a little damp can turn into major works if nobody comes by. Off-season upkeep is not a luxury, it is what lets you start the next season on time.
An empty home deteriorates
An unoccupied home ages faster than you might think. Pipes that are not used, air that does not circulate, a seal that gives way with nobody there to see it. Nothing dramatic at first, but everything gets worse over time.
The steps that prevent this damage are simple: run the water in every tap from time to time, air the rooms, spot the first signs of damp, check that nothing has moved since the last visit. But someone still has to come and do them.
The real cost of a nasty surprise
Imagine you drop by a week before your first guests arrive and discover water damage, even minor. By the time you have filed the claim and brought in the loss adjuster and the tradesperson, the first bookings are already lost.
Insurance pays for the repairs. It does not pay for the nights you could not let. That is the whole point of regular checks: the day there is a problem, you have time to act before your guests arrive.
Insurance will pay for the repairs, but it will not pay for the weeks of bookings you lost.
The Yes Conciergerie team
When a storm hits and the owner is far away
One concierge in the Yes Conciergerie network went through this after a storm: a tree fallen into the pool, several broken windows, and an owner who was not there. The concierge had plastic sheeting fitted over the windows so that the rain, which was still falling, did not get into the house. The team took photos for the insurer. They brought in a gardener to clear the tree and assess the damage to the pool’s torn liner.
The owner followed everything remotely, with photos, without having to travel.
How much would your home earn if it were looked after all year round?
Estimate my incomeThe garden and the pool do not stop in winter
A house with outdoor space needs regular upkeep, even without guests. Trees and hedges are cut back out of season. The pool, even when winterised, needs to run a minimum so the water stays clean and spring does not start with draining it. A concierge arranges these visits and brings in the right professionals at the right time.
The off-season deep clean
Once the season is over, it is time to reset everything. Everything comes out and everything gets checked: duvets, cutlery, crockery. You spot what has gone missing over the stays, the sockets that have come loose, the small repairs to plan. Furniture and sofas are moved to clean behind them. This is what is known as a deep clean.
In big cities, where activity never really stops, there is no true off-season. These jobs are then planned between two stays, by blocking the time needed in the calendar.
How Yes Conciergerie looks after your home
At Yes Conciergerie, our team in Annecy looks after your home all year round, not just during the season. We come by regularly to check the empty home, we organise the deep clean and small repairs in the off-season, and we bring in a gardener, pool technician or tradesperson whenever needed. After every visit, you are kept informed, with photos.
See how we take care of your short-term rental from start to finish.
Frequently asked questions about off-season upkeep
Why have an empty home checked?
Because an unoccupied home deteriorates. A regular check spots a leak or damp in time, before the problem grows and delays the first bookings.
Does insurance cover lost bookings?
Insurance generally covers the repairs, not the loss of income. Nights you cannot let during the repairs are lost: check the terms of your own policy.
What is a deep clean?
It is a thorough top-to-bottom clean done in the off-season: everything is taken out, checked and cleaned, furniture is moved, and an inventory is made of what is missing or needs repairing.
What if my home is let all year round?
In cities where activity never stops, the bigger jobs are planned between two stays, in time slots blocked in the calendar.
Further reading
To keep track of your home from a distance, read our article on owner reporting. To find out what your home could earn, try our rental income estimator in Annecy.
How much could your property earn?
An estimate of your short-term rental income, based on your address.
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