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home alone
home alone
hi everyone
i`m new to all this forum lark, but judging from all the topics and answers i thought i would give it a go, i would just like to have your thoughts on leaving a property empty for the winter months, is it quite safe to do this or do you need a house sitter as we are considering buying a property soon a small villa and really have no idea about security as the algarve always seems so laid back, but the last time we were there we had the villa rep from hell who kept coming round saying she had seen a stranger prowling, think she was just trying to nick my sun screen, as she was the only prowler that i saw
thanks lyndy loo
i`m new to all this forum lark, but judging from all the topics and answers i thought i would give it a go, i would just like to have your thoughts on leaving a property empty for the winter months, is it quite safe to do this or do you need a house sitter as we are considering buying a property soon a small villa and really have no idea about security as the algarve always seems so laid back, but the last time we were there we had the villa rep from hell who kept coming round saying she had seen a stranger prowling, think she was just trying to nick my sun screen, as she was the only prowler that i saw
thanks lyndy loo
Hi Lyndy,
Leaving a house unoccupied all winter can be a risk if it is in an isolated/uninhabited area, as there may well be the odd thief looking for a new TV.
The ususal security features like an alarm system will usually already serve as a sufficient deterrent in such cases.
However, leaving a house closed all winter without anybody to check on it may also bear other risks:
Lack of airing can lead to problems with humidity and mould.
There may be a bigger problem such as a ruptured pipe that would go undetected for months and leave you with a hefty water bill. There may be some storm damage that needs seeing to, etc, etc.
In such cases it is a good idea to have somebody check on the house every so often, to open up the windows, air the linen closets, etc.
The safest option would be to hire a villa manager to take care of this - they can check on the house, send round a maid say once per week for a few hours to give the house a quick once over, etc.
Alternatively, if you have somebody you trust in the vicinity who would be prepared to check up on the house every so often, leave them a key.
Best regards
G.
Leaving a house unoccupied all winter can be a risk if it is in an isolated/uninhabited area, as there may well be the odd thief looking for a new TV.
The ususal security features like an alarm system will usually already serve as a sufficient deterrent in such cases.
However, leaving a house closed all winter without anybody to check on it may also bear other risks:
Lack of airing can lead to problems with humidity and mould.
There may be a bigger problem such as a ruptured pipe that would go undetected for months and leave you with a hefty water bill. There may be some storm damage that needs seeing to, etc, etc.
In such cases it is a good idea to have somebody check on the house every so often, to open up the windows, air the linen closets, etc.
The safest option would be to hire a villa manager to take care of this - they can check on the house, send round a maid say once per week for a few hours to give the house a quick once over, etc.
Alternatively, if you have somebody you trust in the vicinity who would be prepared to check up on the house every so often, leave them a key.
Best regards
G.
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Lesley Jean
- CVO Legend
- Posts: 4118
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:07 pm
- Location: Somerset. and Lombos
- Contact:
:lol:Hi, we live in an isolated area but have good neighbours who keep an eye out for us.
We also have a very good house manager who checks the place once a week or straight after a storm to make sure the house is OK and we have no leaks etc. We are lucky in that we had central heating put in when we renovated so we are able to leave the heating on timed during the winter, combined with leaving two bathroom windows slightly open for circulation we do not have a problem with damp or mould. (the windows are locked by the way and have security grills on them)
The other advantage to a house manager is that she will arrange for the place to be cleaned for us before we arrive, as we usually only get out for three to four days at a time I find this great otherwise I would spend one of my very precious days cleaning. She also has our bed made up for us and some food put into the fridge for us for breakfast as the flights in are always late in the evening.
As Gambrinus said I would not leave the place locked up for the whole winter, anything could happen! and you wouldn't know about it until you went out the next time.
We also have a very good house manager who checks the place once a week or straight after a storm to make sure the house is OK and we have no leaks etc. We are lucky in that we had central heating put in when we renovated so we are able to leave the heating on timed during the winter, combined with leaving two bathroom windows slightly open for circulation we do not have a problem with damp or mould. (the windows are locked by the way and have security grills on them)
The other advantage to a house manager is that she will arrange for the place to be cleaned for us before we arrive, as we usually only get out for three to four days at a time I find this great otherwise I would spend one of my very precious days cleaning. She also has our bed made up for us and some food put into the fridge for us for breakfast as the flights in are always late in the evening.
As Gambrinus said I would not leave the place locked up for the whole winter, anything could happen! and you wouldn't know about it until you went out the next time.
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Lesley Jean
- CVO Legend
- Posts: 4118
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:07 pm
- Location: Somerset. and Lombos
- Contact:
I don't think I can answer that as we are still living in the UK and bought our house in 2002.I believe the market has made steady but slow progress since then, but I might be mistaken. I think about 3 - 4 years ago you could by an apartment in cvo for about 75,000 euros now you would be lucky to find anything under 100,000 euros.
I think anyone is open to an offer, the main problem we had was in trying to by from a Portuguese owner as trying to get every member of a family to agree to the sale and sign all the documents can take forever if at all!!
We lost two properties through this, in the end we bought from a South African gentleman who wanted to return to his country.
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Lesley Jean
- CVO Legend
- Posts: 4118
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:07 pm
- Location: Somerset. and Lombos
- Contact:
Yes we are very lucky, we hopefully expect, in about 5 years to be able to live in Portugal, at the moment I have too many commitments, with our daughters (one still in Uni) and all my animals, but as nature takes its course we hope to be able to spend more time out at our house.We plan to downsize here in the UK by the end of this year, which will allow us to shut up our place easier than now. (large farmhouse, land, horse, dog, cats, rabbit and guinea pigs!!!!!!)
I don't know if it is that we have been lucky or that we were lucky in finding such good neighbours, house manager and friends who have advised us and pointed us in the right direction, but we have not encountered any real problems during our purchase, renovation and subsequent furnishing of our place out in Portugal.
Security wise we have been lucky, I don't know why but we have had no problems. Maybe because we are in a very rural situation at the end of a no through 'track' which gets very little traffic except for the people who live there.
We try and get out once a month, only for three to four days at a time but it is enough to keep ideas on the go in Portugal and to have a couple of days rest as well.
The main thing is that we can fly from Bristol, Exeter or Bournemouth and I try to buy tickets when the easy-jet sales come out, we have had a couple of trips for as little as £50 return so it makes it worth while.
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nightrider
Hi LL,
The first thing is to consider is the location you are thinking of purchasing in urban or countryside.
Whilst Portugal is one of the better countries in so far as crime, nevertheless, I would suggest the following:-
Decorative Grills on the windows, with shutters inside (like the french chateaus) on the doors matching decorative gate grills, that can be locked and opened wide when your using your villa/cottage etc and again with the above mentioned shutters inside. These are the best security. Plus of course sensor lights.
It is always wise to have a person you know and trust to be a key holder.
If your not going to be there for any length of time, a post box at the post office is the best idea. Otherwise, if at the property or at the end of a lane, these boxes become full and the obvious problems will occur.
We hold the keys for friends and on a visit found a former owner going down the letterbox..the box has now been changed.
Nightrider.
The first thing is to consider is the location you are thinking of purchasing in urban or countryside.
Whilst Portugal is one of the better countries in so far as crime, nevertheless, I would suggest the following:-
Decorative Grills on the windows, with shutters inside (like the french chateaus) on the doors matching decorative gate grills, that can be locked and opened wide when your using your villa/cottage etc and again with the above mentioned shutters inside. These are the best security. Plus of course sensor lights.
It is always wise to have a person you know and trust to be a key holder.
If your not going to be there for any length of time, a post box at the post office is the best idea. Otherwise, if at the property or at the end of a lane, these boxes become full and the obvious problems will occur.
We hold the keys for friends and on a visit found a former owner going down the letterbox..the box has now been changed.
Nightrider.