Adapt this list to your property and the season. It is a starting point for a written agreement with a local contact, not a substitute for a professional inspection.
On a routine visit
- Check doors, windows, shutters and any signs of forced entry.
- Look for visible leaks, damp, unusual smells or signs of pests.
- Check that electricity, water and heating are behaving as agreed, without resetting a fault before recording it.
- Look at the roofline, gutters and exterior from safe ground level. Note storm damage or blocked drainage.
- Check the garden, pool and post only if these tasks are included in the service.
Before a long absence
Agree whether water should be turned off, which circuits or appliances stay on, and how heating, ventilation, alarms and frost protection will be managed. Leave clear instructions for access, emergency contacts and any system that needs a specialist.
After bad weather
Ask for an additional visit when severe weather may have affected the property. Request dated photographs of any damage, a brief description of what is visible and a call before non-urgent repairs are authorised.
Before you return
Confirm access, utilities and any agreed cleaning or garden work. If guests also use the home, agree separately who checks for damage, handles keys and arranges a changeover.
Make the reporting useful
- Agree the visit frequency, a simple report format and when photographs are needed.
- Set an emergency spending limit and decide who can approve a tradesperson.
- Record what was checked, what could not be checked and any follow-up date.
- Review the list together when the property, season or service changes.
For the person holding access to your home, read our guide to choosing a keyholder. Maison Managers is preparing factual provider profiles for Hérault; confirm any provider's scope and terms directly.
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