Arrival and Departure Checklists | Holiday Home Handbook

Most problems in an empty home start in the last ten minutes before the door closes, or get missed in the first ten after it opens. A checklist helps because tired people forget things, and holiday departures are a good way to be tired. These two lists cover the main points for leaving and for arriving, with a reason for each so you can adapt them to your own property. They are general, not a substitute for advice from your insurer, a local authority or a qualified tradesperson, and rules differ by country. For the bigger picture, see looking after a home you are not living in.

Leaving: water first

Water does the most damage of anything in an empty house, so it comes first. Everything else on the list is easier to forgive.

Check taps, showers and toilets are fully off. One county water utility in the United States, Gwinnett County, advises checking that every toilet has completed its flush cycle and that the flapper is seated, and that taps, tubs and showerheads are tightly closed with no leaks. A toilet that keeps refilling can run for weeks unseen.
Turn off the water at the main valve. Gwinnett's advice is to turn off the water at the main shut-off valve and drain the system by running a faucet. The reason is simple: if a pipe or hose fails while you are away, the supply is already off.
Know what the valve controls first. Irrigation, a pool top-up or some heating systems may depend on mains water. If you are unsure, ask a plumber before your first long absence.
Think about frost. The City of Ravenna, Ohio, advises residents to keep the thermostat at no lower than 55 degrees Fahrenheit (about 13 degrees Celsius), and to close the shut-off valve for a vacant or long-unattended property. In a cold climate, decide on purpose whether you are heating the house or draining it.

Leaving: power, appliances and settings

Switch off or unplug what does not need to run. Kettles, toasters, chargers, irons and similar items are the usual list. The reason is fire: nobody is there to notice a fault.
Ask a qualified electrician which circuits should stay on. Smoke alarms, a fridge you plan to leave running, a dehumidifier or a security system may need power. Do not guess at the consumer unit.
Set heating or cooling deliberately. Both too much and too little cause harm: frozen pipes at one end, a sealed, overheated house at the other. The guides on winter and storm preparation and cooling an empty house in summer go through each side.
Decide what the water heater will do while you are away. Advice varies by type of heater, so check the manual or ask a plumber. The arrival list below explains why a flushed, properly heated system matters on return.
Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says to test alarms monthly and replace the batteries annually. A dead alarm in an unattended house will not warn anyone.

Leaving: food, bins, windows and valuables

Empty the fridge of anything perishable. Food left behind rots, smells and attracts pests. Whether the fridge stays on depends on how long you will be away and on its manual, so check before a long absence.
Take the rubbish and recycling out. Food residue, including the half-finished bottle in the recycling, draws insects and rodents. More on this in pest prevention in empty homes.
Close and lock windows, doors, gates, sheds and garage. Police crime-prevention advice in several countries starts here, with valuables kept out of sight from windows. Open windows invite weather as well as thieves.
Leave a contact. Give your neighbour or keyholder a phone number and tell them how long you expect to be away. Security detail is in security for empty homes.
Photograph each room and note the meter readings. This is a common-sense extra rather than something the cited bodies prescribe. It makes a change easier to spot on return.

Arriving: look before you switch things on

The urge on arrival is to open everything, turn everything on and put the kettle on. Slow down for the first few minutes. What you see and smell before you change anything tells you the most.

Look and smell at the door. Damp, stale or musty smells, stains on ceilings, bubbling paint and water marks all point to moisture while you were away. The reasons and fixes are in damp, mould and humidity in empty homes.
Check the floor and under sinks for water. Do this before you restore the supply, so you can tell an old leak from a new one.
Look for pests. Droppings, chewed packaging and nests in corners or the meter cupboard are common first signs. Check the outside as well, for holes where pests could get in.
Check doors and windows for signs of forced entry before you go further. If you find any, do not go in. Step away and contact the police.

Arriving: restore water, then flush

Turn the main valve back on slowly, then walk the house listening and looking for leaks at joints and under sinks. Pressure finds weak points quickly.
Do a leak check with the water meter. The EPA's Fix a Leak Week page says to read the meter before and after a two-hour stretch with no water use; if the reading changes, a leak is likely. For toilets, a few drops of food colouring in the tank will show in the bowl within 10 minutes if the flapper leaks.
Flush every outlet. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for reopening buildings says to flush hot and cold water through all points of use, such as showers and sink faucets, because stagnant water can raise the risk of Legionella growth. Run every tap and shower, and flush every toilet. The CDC adds that people with weakened immune systems should consult a medical provider before taking part in flushing.
Check the water heater. The CDC advises making sure the heater is set to at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit while taking steps to prevent scalding. That figure is written for buildings; follow your heater's manual and local rules, and call a plumber if it will not heat.

Arriving: alarms and appliances

Test every smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. The CPSC says CO alarms should be installed on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Replace flat batteries now, not next week.
Bring appliances back one at a time. If one trips the power or smells hot, switch it off and ask a qualified electrician. If you smell gas or doubt a gas appliance, leave it off and call a qualified gas engineer.
Reset clocks, timers and thermostats to your normal settings, and note anything that changed while you were away.
Write down what you found. A short note helps next time and helps whoever checked the house.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do with the fridge when leaving a second home empty?

Empty it of anything perishable. The point is to avoid rot, smell and pests. Whether to leave it running nearly empty or switch it off depends on the appliance and the length of your absence, so check the manual.

Is it safe to drink the water the moment I arrive?

Flush first. Public health guidance, such as the CDC's, says stagnant water can raise the risk of Legionella and other bacteria, and flushing through all points of use is the standard first step. If the water looks or smells wrong, get a plumber or your water supplier to look at it.

How do I know if there is a hidden leak?

Use the meter test: with everything off, note the reading, wait two hours, and check again. Any change suggests a leak somewhere, which a plumber can then find.

Do these lists change for rental homes?

The core steps stay the same. A rental adds changeover tasks such as linen and cleaning, which are covered in changeover cleaning for holiday lets.

The short version

Leave with the water off, the food gone, the doors locked and a note of what you did. Arrive by looking and smelling first, then restore water slowly, check for leaks, flush every outlet and test the alarms. Keep the lists on a single sheet where you can find them, and adjust them for your climate and your plumbing.