Handy tips to help you to prepare your holiday cottage for autumn and winter

With the days getting cooler and shorter, it brings autumn and winter to the forefront of our minds. Here's our winter checklist to make sure you are all set up for the season ahead. 

Winter is a magical time; family reunions, indulgent food, warm drinks, crisp blue skies and fresh frosts framing the landscape. It’s a time of year that is full of atmosphere and cheer, but winter can also bring with it some harsh realities. Looking after your holiday home will ensure you and your guests will be able to enjoy this wonderful time of year without incident.

Here are some of our suggestions to help you look after your holiday home this year:

Heating

Before guests arrive please make sure that your property’s heating has been checked and remember to put the heating on/turn it up a few days beforehand to make sure your property is toasty warm and welcoming. 

If your property has a wood-burner or open fire check there are enough logs, kindling and coal etc.

Flooding

Winter sometimes sees extensive flooding in many areas, causing significant damage to thousands of homes. Start your preparation by considering your home’s vulnerability to floods, and implement measures accordingly. A good flood plan will save you a lot of energy and costs. Visit websites such as www.nidirect.gov.uk for ideas on how to protect your home.

Frozen pipes

Frozen pipes are the second greatest cause of unanticipated and unwelcome flooding in our homes. If you don’t plan on using your home this winter, make sure you have turned the water off at the stopcock. Additionally, if you’d rather not turn off your heating altogether, drain your heating system and maintain a regulated temperature in your holiday home to ensure that pipes do not freeze over. You can monitor this by regularly inspecting your home, and also by employing a professional to check things over. Finally, it’s a good idea to insulate pipes and storage systems in your holiday home, particularly if they are out in the elements.

Check gutters

Inevitably living in the UK means we should be prepared for a lot of rain. If drains and guttering become blocked it can create a whole host of problems – but problems that can easily be avoided by frequently assessing your home.

Loose slates and garden furniture

For holiday home owners, strong winds can cause extensive destruction but with simple measures damage can be controlled. Check for loose roof slates and tiles, and any potential problems to chimneys. Remove any outside furniture or equipment that isn’t totally secure, and also check gates and fencing. Additionally, make sure you inspect any trees around your property to avoid dead branches coming down and wreaking havoc on your home.

Chimney safety

With everyone coveting images of toasty, warming fires this winter, now’s the time to run some routine checks on your fireplace and chimney. Read our blog on chimney maintenance for top tips and advice on how to keep safe.

Insurance

It’s better to be safe than sorry. By doing your research and taking out good insurance, you cover yourself in case your home does get damaged this winter.