How do I prepare the house for a long stay after it’s been closed for months?

If your second home in Denia and the surrounding area has been closed for months, a good tune-up will save you time, unpleasant surprises, and breakdowns. Here’s a checklist with a practical order of tasks and approximate timings so you can arrive and start enjoying your stay as soon as possible.

This approach works the same in Denia, Ondara, Vergel, La Xara, Las Marinas, La Sella, Pedreguer, La Pedrera, Jesús Pobre or Els Poblets—just adjust the times depending on the size of the property. If you can’t come in advance, you can delegate the pre-arrival tune-up within a comprehensive home maintenance plan.

At Edelweiss Homeservice, we coordinate ventilation, flushing the plumbing, HVAC checks, appliances, deep cleaning, pool and garden so everything is ready when you arrive.

Quick prep on arrival (5–10 min)

• Access and utilities: Open and check doors, windows and shutters; reset breakers and check water/gas (5–6 min).
• Initial ventilation: Open opposite windows to create airflow for 5–10 minutes while you do other tasks.
• Quick visual check: Hallway, kitchen and bathrooms—look for damp stains, strong odours, or anything out of place.

Ventilation and humidity control (15–25 min)

• Cross-ventilation: Keep opposite windows open for 15–20 min.
• Dehumidifying: Switch on a dehumidifier if it smells musty or you see condensation (1–2 min to set up).
• Sensitive spots: Check corners, cupboards and areas behind furniture for possible mould marks.
• If the house stays closed for months: Consider regular inspections to air out the property and keep humidity under control even when you’re away.

Flush taps and restart plumbing (15–25 min)

• Taps and showers: Run each outlet for 1–2 minutes until the water runs clear and odour-free.
• Toilets: Flush several times to renew the water in the cistern.
• Check for leaks: Look under sinks, in bathroom cabinets and around traps/siphons.
• Approx. timing: Small property ~15 min; family home ~25 min.
• If you spot drips or rust: Add it to your next regular inspection or your comprehensive maintenance plan.

HVAC: Air conditioning and boiler/water heater (20–35 min)

Air conditioning

• Filters: Quick clean if possible before switching on.
• Fan mode: 10–15 min to move air and “wake up” the unit.
• Cool/heat mode: Another 10–15 min to check for drips, noises and performance.

Boiler or water heater

• Pressure: Check it’s between 1 and 1.5 bar.
• Hot water test: Open a tap and confirm stable temperature.
• Early warning: If you see error codes, strange noises or leaks, stop and request a professional check.
• Delegation option: Include these checks within a pre-arrival opening service so everything is tested before you get there.

Appliances that have been “idle” (20–40 min)

Fridge

• If it was switched off: Clean inside, switch on, and let it cool for 12–24 hours before filling it.
• If it was left on: Check temperature, door seals and any odours.

Washing machine and dishwasher

• Empty cycle: A short program with an anti-limescale/anti-biofilm product; you can run this in parallel with cleaning.

Small appliances

• Quick check: Coffee machine, microwave, toaster… run for a few seconds and wipe contact surfaces.
• Delegatable: Include it in a cleaning and pre-arrival preparation package.

Smart deep cleaning (60–120 min)

• Work order: Kitchen and bathrooms first; then the rest of the rooms.
• High-touch surfaces: Countertops, handles, switches, remotes and railings are top priority.
• Textiles: Sheets, towels and covers straight into the wash so they’re ready ASAP.
• Top to bottom: Dust and furniture first, floors last—avoid doing the same work twice.
• Coastal homes: Pay extra attention to window frames and shutter tracks where salt, dust and humidity build up.
• If you don’t want to spend 2 hours cleaning: Use our exclusive cleaning service, coordinated with the rest of the tune-up.

Pool: Quick check and tune-up (15–30 min)

• Filtration equipment: Check water level, skimmers, baskets and filter pressure.
• Basic parameters: Test pH and sanitizer; adjust and shock-treat if needed.
• Extra circulation: In summer, increase filtration time for the first day.
• Waterline: Brush if there’s a film or visible dirt.
• If you live abroad: Include this in a professional pool maintenance plan with regular visits.

Garden and irrigation (15–30 min)

• Controller: Adjust schedules and frequency based on season (summer/winter).
• Zone test: Walk around while it runs to spot blocked or broken drippers.
• Leaks: Check for waterlogged areas or unusual water use.
• Tidy up: Remove leaves and debris, especially near drains and entrances.
• Ongoing plan: Coordinate these tasks within a garden maintenance plan and, if needed, with pest control.

Security and keys (5–10 min)

• Locks and shutters: Ensure everything opens/closes properly; note any play or strange marks.
• Locks/cylinders: Consider adjustment or replacement if there were works or services during your absence.
• Alarm system: Confirm it works and check pending alerts.
• If you’ll be away again: Consider professional key holding combined with regular inspections.

Summary checklist with approximate times

• Prep + ventilation: 20–35 min.
• Plumbing (flush + leaks): 15–25 min.
• HVAC (A/C + boiler): 20–35 min.
• Appliances: 20–40 min (in parallel with cleaning).
• Basic deep cleaning: 60–120 min.
• Pool: 15–30 min.
• Garden & irrigation: 15–30 min.

• Estimated total (small property): 2 h 15 min – 3 h 15 min.
• Estimated total (family home): 3 h – 4 h 30 min.
• With external support: By delegating tasks within a comprehensive maintenance plan, you can arrive with everything done.

Optimal order to avoid wasting time

• 1. Ventilate and restore utilities.
• 2. Flush taps while the A/C runs in fan mode.
• 3. Start the boiler/water heater.
• 4. Run empty appliance cycles + begin deep cleaning.
• 5. Pool and garden as part of the final cleaning.
• 6. Final security check (locks, keys, alarm).

No time to come early? Delegation options

• 24–72 h before arrival: Deep cleaning, pre-cooling the fridge, and empty cycles for washer/dishwasher.
• Same day: Flush taps, A/C check, pool ready, irrigation adjusted.
• Photo report: Sent via WhatsApp or email with what was done and any issues detected.
• Full integration: Combining cleaning, pool, garden and regular inspections, coordinated via professional key holding.

Service areas

We work in Denia, Ondara, Vergel, La Xara, Las Marinas, La Sella, Pedreguer, La Pedrera, Jesús Pobre and Els Poblets, with plans tailored for long stays and absentee homeowners.

Pre-arrival tune-up

Want to arrive and relax without spending hours on chores? We design a tailored Pre-Arrival Tune-Up service: ventilation, flushing, HVAC checks, appliances, deep cleaning, pool and garden, ready at the time you specify.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance do I need to book the tune-up?

Ideally 48–72 hours if it includes deep cleaning and the pool. For an express check (ventilation, flushing and basic equipment), 24 hours is usually enough.

Can you coordinate keys and access if I’m not there?

Yes. We offer key holding with logging and verification and coordinate access for cleaning, technicians or gardening within your comprehensive maintenance plan or through regular inspections.

What if you detect a problem when opening the house?

We notify you immediately with photos and a proposed solution/priority list so you can decide without travelling. If you authorise it, we coordinate repairs, additional cleaning or any adjustments needed before your arrival.