who looks after the house?

[mobeydick]

If you go sailing for a 2-3 months at a time, what do you do with the house - lawn mowing, checking all is ok, mail etc?

It is too long (and too often) to rely on neighbours, and assume there are no relatives near/at home.

Are there trustworthy companies that one can use?
Md

 

[John 32i]

And the dog??!

 

[SimbaDog]

Surely one has staff to deal with that sort of thing?

 

[VicS]

If you go sailing for a 2-3 months at a time, what do you do with the house - lawn mowing, checking all is ok, mail etc?

It is too long (and too often) to rely on neighbours, and assume there are no relatives near/at home.

Are there trustworthy companies that one can use?
Md

New mind the lawn etc ... is the house insurance valid if it's unoccupied for that long that often.

 

[johnalison]

We've been doing this for a good many years now. Fortunately, the first owners of the house collected antiques, so we have security blinds all around, which makes leaving the house empty less stressful.

Our small garden and smaller lawn need little attention but a neighbour mows occasionally, to make the house look more lived-in. Otherwise, the garden looks after itself. I have a blitz against weeds in the weeks before we go and it only takes a couple of hours work when I return to tidy things up.

House insurance can be a problem. At the moment, we tell them we are going to be away and they set a limit for the time and don't want anyone coming in, except a key-holder who clears the post for us. Previously, an insurer would only insure us if someone came in occasionally, so it is best to check with yours.

 

[Mudisox]

And the dog??!

The dog comes too.

Neighbouring farmer friends look out for us, and the cows moo the lawn.

 

[A1Sailor]

the cows moo the lawn.

A really baa'd joke - surely you mean a sheep; a black one?

 

[SamSalter]

that would be the wife!

Sam

 

[ukmctc]

rent it out as a holiday let with a local company/internet and enjoy your sailing.

 

[vyv_cox]

Neighbour mows the lawn occasionally but the house pretty much looks after itself. It's had plenty of practice, stood empty for three years when we lived in Aberdeen and seven years when we were in Holland.

On insurance, we use the Camping and Caravanning Club's insurance. The house can be unoccupied for up to six months.

 

[mobeydick]

Thanks for (serious) replies. I think our grass would.get too long (an obvious message to thieves) but it looks.like people just leave the house to.look.after itself.

Md

 

[Poignard]

How about using one of those 'house sitting agencies'? Some old dear comes and lives in it while your away. Sits around knitting and drinking Earl Grey tea.

 

[capnsensible]

Sold ours......

 

[Bosun Higgs]

The puzzle about this thread is that we havent had the weather to go away sailing for more than a few days at a time since about 2005. I think I'd rather be at home than sitting in the boat in the pouring rain and howling gale worrying about whether my house insurance will cover me..

 

[mobeydick]

The puzzle about this thread is that we havent had the weather to go away sailing for more than a few days at a time since about 2005. I think I'd rather be at home than sitting in the boat in the pouring rain and howling gale worrying about whether my house insurance will cover me..

That's true if you sail from the UK up to a weeek at a time. In three months you can get to the warm places...

Md

 

[LittleSister]

A friend who goes abroad a lot (tho' not for sailing) pays the neighbour's son to mow the lawn, etc. The cost to my friend is trifling, but it means he's not entirely reliant on favours, and the money comes in handy for the boy.

 

[AngusMcDoon]

If you go paperless on all statements and direct debit for all bills it's possible to get post down to almost nothing which removes one of your problems.

 

[vyv_cox]

If you go paperless on all statements and direct debit for all bills it's possible to get post down to almost nothing which removes one of your problems.

'Almost nothing' in our case is subscription copies of YM and PBO, magazines from Lifeboat, Camping and Caravanning Club, Caravan Club, Cruising Association, yacht club, professional engineering and materials institutes, loads of unsolicited stuff, correspondence from banks, insurance, etc that they will not email, etc. it usually takes us a couple of days to sort it and several months to read the mags.

 

[Blueboatman]

This may not be for everyone but the rent a room scheme, subject to knowing them already enough to ensure common values and responsibility ( ah...), 'can' work well both ways. They treat the place as their own with a sense of fun and sense, family can visit etc, I go sailing.

So, no mooring for a few months ( a goodly saving), house pays its way ( another useful saving)...
I have renegotiated mooring rates upon my return that have in retrospect effectively paid for sailing time away, which, as that Paul Whitehouse used to say as the dodgy earl on the Fast Show, 'was nice'
Ah if t'were always so eh?