Semi-Unoccupied House for a Year or So

[SVS]

I'm working on a project in an area I'd never live long term. Instead of moving, I've rented a small furnished apartment and am returning home every four to six weeks for a few days. However, this leaves my house basically unoccupied for the next year. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Suggestions?

 

[otc]

Originally Posted by SVS

I'm working on a project in an area I'd never live long term. Instead of moving, I've rented a small furnished apartment and am returning home every four to six weeks for a few days. However, this leaves my house basically unoccupied for the next year. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Suggestions?

Where's your house?

I'll take care of it for you and won't mind if you come visit every few weeks

 

[HEWSINATOR]

Make sure to comply with your insurance policy.

 

[ter1413]

have a neighbor p/u your mail....what is the address, i will stop by and confirm all is aok..

 

[ysc]

If it is at all isolated perhaps set up a couple of lamps or a radio, or even a tv, on timers to be on for a few hours in the evening.

Make sure someone collects any junkmail and pamphlets that might be in your letter box/whatever equivalent you have so it looks like someone is living there. If they build up it is a sure sign that the place is empty.

 

[otc]

What I said was actually somewhat serious (though obviously the tenant wouldn't be me).

If it is going to be gone that long...can you find someone to stay in it?

I have several friends who did similar things. One of them lived in her boss's house while she was on some assignment far away. It worked well because it was an otherwise unpaid internship and if she had had to pay rent, she probably couldn't have done it (she had started working there while still in school and did this for a year before going to vet school). Another one lived in a family friend's place with 2 roommates for a year or two during school (all paying rent) while the place would have otherwise sat vacant.

When you come back, different things can happen. The vet girl and her boss were close enough that she would just come back to the house for a weekend every month or two and it was fine. I believe the owners in the other situation just stayed in a friend's guest room (so they didn't get to use their house, but there were only a couple of visits throughout the whole period).

If done right, it ensures everything is looked after and you can get a little money for it (or free labor)

 

[highfalutin]

There ought to be a competition here for the most responsible house-sitter, and I intend to win that competition.

 

[justsayno]

rent it out for a year
or airbnb

 

[level32]

I was on a project that required me to be away 95% of the time for 6 months and decided to just rent it out for that time period. I stayed at the girlfriend's place on the weekends. You could probably crash with a friend or stay in a hotel once every 4-6 weeks.

That all depends on how much your area rents for of course.

 

[JoelF]

Generally a bad idea to just leave a house sitting empty, anything can happen. Find someone to live there.

 

[Dakota rube]

Originally Posted by HEWSINATOR

Make sure to comply with your insurance policy.

...and your mortgage. Most have pretty specific language in regard to occupancy and your principal residence.