Last Updated on November 5, 2026
A year sounds like a long time until you start planning everything you need to do before leaving. There are flights to book, bags to pack, and probably a few things you’ve promised yourself you’ll sort out before departure. Somewhere in the middle of all that, you remember the house. It’s going to be sitting there while you’re somewhere else entirely.
And houses have a funny way of needing attention at the worst possible moments. A pipe starts leaking. The garden gets out of hand. A storm loosens something on the roof. Nothing unusual, really. Just the kind of stuff you’d normally deal with on a Saturday morning.
Except you won’t be there. Getting your property ready for a year away is mostly about making sure those ordinary problems don’t become emergencies.
First, Figure Out Who’s Going to Be There
Or whether anyone will be there at all.
You might be planning to lock the door and leave the house empty. Maybe you’re thinking about renting it out to help pay for the trip. Or perhaps a family member has offered to stay. Each arrangement changes what you need to do. Renting sounds appealing when you look at the potential income. But tenants need someone to contact when things break, and being six time zones away makes even simple conversations harder.
Leaving the house empty avoids that responsibility, although it brings a different set of concerns. Someone still needs to check the place. And letting a relative stay isn’t automatically hassle free. It’s worth discussing who pays for what and what happens if repairs are needed. There’s no clever answer here. Pick the arrangement that suits your finances and the amount of responsibility you’re comfortable carrying while you’re away.
That Little Leak Probably Can’t Wait Anymore
Most homeowners have a mental list of repairs they’ll get around to eventually. The bathroom tap that drips. A window that doesn’t shut quite right. The fence panel that moves whenever the wind picks up. When you’re living there, it’s easy to keep putting those things off.
A year away changes that.
Spend a morning walking around the house and looking for anything that could become a problem. Pay attention to plumbing, roof damage, damp patches, electrical fittings, and heating or cooling equipment. If something hasn’t been serviced in years, now would be a sensible time to have it checked. Outside, clear the gutters and trim branches near the roof. Make sure gates and fences are secure.
Try not to schedule all this for the week before you fly. Repairs have a habit of taking longer than expected. You want enough time to discover that the plumber needs to return without having to rearrange your departure plans.
Your House Still Has Bills, Even When You’re Not Home
It’s easy to become so focused on the travel budget that you forget about the money going out back home. The mortgage still needs paying. So do property taxes and insurance. You may also need to keep some utilities running. Then there’s maintenance. You could go months without a problem. Or you could have two expensive repairs within the first few weeks.
Nobody knows.
That’s why it’s worth putting together a separate property budget before leaving. List the regular bills, work out what maintenance might cost, and keep some money aside for unexpected repairs. If you’ve been considering major improvements, take a proper look at how you’ll pay for them. For example, you can apply for a home equity loan online to explore whether borrowing against the equity in your property could help finance necessary renovations.
That said, taking on debt just before a year of travel deserves careful thought. Home equity loans have repayment costs, and failing to repay could put your house at risk. Compare the full terms and make sure the payments will remain affordable alongside your travel expenses. Sometimes it’s better to delay a project until you return.
Not every improvement needs to happen before you leave.
A Security Camera Can’t Fix a Broken Window
Remote security systems are useful. There’s something reassuring about opening an app and seeing that the front door is closed and everything looks normal.
But a camera can only tell you so much.
If a storm damages a window or the alarm keeps going off, someone still has to deal with it. Start with the physical security of the house. Check locks, doors, windows, and outdoor lighting. Consider cameras and motion sensors where they make sense. You might also use timers to switch lights on in the evenings.
Then speak to someone nearby.
A neighbor who knows you’re away can watch for anything unusual. They might notice an open gate, a damaged fence, or a delivery that’s been sitting outside for several days. Also, think about what you’re sharing online. Posting photographs from your travels is one thing. Telling everyone that your house will be empty for the next twelve months is another.
Somebody Needs to Notice When Things Go Wrong
A house that’s been left alone for a few weeks can start looking and feeling different.
The lawn gets untidy. Leaves collect in corners. Sometimes there’s that slightly stale smell when a place hasn’t been opened up for a while. And occasionally, there’s a problem you wouldn’t notice from outside. Water staining on a ceiling. Dampness around a window. Signs of pests in the kitchen. Arrange for regular checks, including inside the property. The person doing them should know what to look for and how to report concerns.
You’ll also need to deal with seasonal maintenance. Cold weather brings the risk of frozen pipes. Hot, humid conditions can cause moisture problems. Gardens may need attention throughout the year. You don’t necessarily need to hire a full property management company. A reliable local contact and a few service providers could be enough.
The important thing is having an actual arrangement rather than assuming someone will keep an eye on things.
Read the Insurance Policy Before You’re Halfway Across the World
This is probably the least enjoyable part of preparing for a long trip.
But it’s worth a phone call.
Some home insurance policies have rules about how long a property can remain vacant or unoccupied. Others require certain precautions or additional coverage. You don’t want to discover those conditions after making a claim. Tell your insurer how long you’ll be away and explain whether the house will be empty, occupied by someone you know, or rented out.
Ask about any coverage restrictions and whether regular inspections are required. If you’re renting, find out what insurance is appropriate for that arrangement. And save the policy details somewhere you can access from abroad. It’s one of those jobs that takes less effort than dealing with the consequences of skipping it.
Don’t Switch Everything Off Without Thinking
You could save money by disconnecting services you’re not using. But which ones can safely be switched off? That depends on your house and the weather where you live. Heating may need to stay on during freezing temperatures. In humid areas, some cooling or dehumidification may be necessary to prevent damage.
Your security equipment might need both power and internet access. Go through your utility accounts individually. Cancel what you genuinely won’t need and keep the essential services running. You should also ask a plumber whether shutting off the main water supply is suitable for your home. Automatic payments are worth setting up for any bills that will continue.
There’s nothing particularly enjoyable about trying to restore a disconnected service while you’re traveling through a country with unreliable mobile reception.
Give Someone Permission to Handle the Small Stuff
Imagine you’re out for the day, miles from your accommodation, and your phone finally gets a signal.
There are several messages from home. A contractor needs access. Somebody’s found a damaged section of gutter. Your neighbor wants to know what to do. None of it is a disaster, but now you’ve got a series of decisions to make from the other side of the world.
This is where a trusted local contact makes life easier. Choose someone who’s willing to deal with small issues and knows when to involve you. Give them details for contractors, insurance, and emergency services. Agree on how much they can spend on urgent minor repairs without asking first. For matters that require legal authorization, arrange the necessary paperwork. The less confusion there is about who can do what, the easier things will be when something unexpected happens.
Get Your Important Information Somewhere You Can Find It
Before you leave, collect the information you’re likely to need while away. Insurance details. Mortgage records. Contractor numbers. Appliance warranties. Maintenance schedules. You probably have most of it already, just not all in one place.
Store secure digital copies and check that you can access them from abroad. Also, make sure your banking and other essential accounts won’t become difficult to use when you change SIM cards or move between countries. Two factor authentication is important, but it’s worth checking how you’ll receive codes if your usual phone number isn’t available.
It’s a small administrative job. An annoying one, perhaps. But much easier to handle from your own kitchen table than an airport waiting area.
Leave Time for a Proper Final Check
The last few days before departure are rarely as calm as you expect. There’s always something else to buy, wash, pack, or remember. Try to finish your property preparations before that final rush. Then, when everything else is mostly done, walk through the house. Check locks and windows. Empty the fridge. Take out the rubbish. Unplug unnecessary electronics and make sure essential systems are set up correctly.
Test the alarms and cameras. Confirm who’s doing the maintenance checks. If someone will be living in the house, take photographs of its condition and make sure you’ve agreed on the practical details. Give your local contact the keys and information they need.
Then go.
There’s a point where you’ve done what you reasonably can, and continuing to worry won’t make the house any safer.
You’ll Be Glad You Planned Ahead
The first few days of a long trip can feel strange. You’re somewhere new, trying to work out the local transport, finding places to eat, and getting used to not following your usual routine. Home may feel very far away. It helps to know that the bills are being paid, someone is checking on the property, and there’s a plan if something breaks.
Will that prevent every problem? Of course not. But it means a minor issue back home doesn’t necessarily have to become your problem for the entire afternoon. You’ve arranged for the house to be looked after. You’ve dealt with the repairs you could see coming. You’ve given yourself some financial breathing room.
Now there’s a whole year ahead of you. It would be a shame to spend too much of it worrying about a house you’ve already prepared as well as you can.
