Lock up and leave: Taking care of your home when you’re away

Leaving for a holiday, travelling for work, or going away for a weekend? Make sure everything in your home runs smoothly and safely while you’re gone by following our useful ‘lock up and leave’ property tips.

What is a ‘lock up and leave’ property?

A ‘lock up and leave’ home is a term commonly used to describe a property that requires very little in terms of daily maintenance, including cleaning and gardening. Often an apartment or a smaller home, these types of homes are popular with downsizers, and people who have busy lifestyles, or spend time away from home often – hence ‘locking up and leaving’, in that they can leave their home for as long as they need to, with the peace of mind that everything will be as they left it when they return.

If a ‘lock up and leave’ property would suit your current lifestyle, here are some helpful pointers to help you travel-proof your home.

How to create a ‘lock up and leave’ home

Pick low-maintenance houseplants

Avoid the sad sight of wilted leaves when you open your front door, and opt for houseplants that require little care and attention. From plants which don’t need regular pruning, to switching soil for water – also known as hydroponics – your indoor greenery needn’t suffer while you’re away.

For plants that do require regular watering, opt for a self-watering setup. These include easy non-mechanical options that dispense water gradually, as well as smart feeders that you can control remotely via a smartphone app.

Clean up with a robot vacuum

You’ll never have to come back to dusty floors when you have a robot vacuum cleaner, which you can instruct to clean your home while you’re away. A robot vacuum will map out your home’s floorplan, and even switch between carpet and hard floor to ensure every room is fresh, saving you time and effort on this tedious cleaning task even when you’re just popping out for the day.

Controlled through an app, your robot vacuum can be programmed to clean on a regular schedule, as well as ad-hoc cleans – like when you’re heading back from a trip.

Install a smart home system

Smart home heating systems allow you to control the temperature of your home from a handy app, so when you’re away you can turn it off altogether, ensuring that you aren’t wasting money on heating an empty property. What’s more, in the winter you can remotely switch on the heating for a short time to prevent your pipes from freezing, or warm up your home to your preferred temperature in time for your return.

You can also install smart lightbulbs and even smart curtain openers, which may offer peace of mind when you’re away from home as you have the ability to control them from an app, helping to create the appearance that your property is occupied.

Keep a close eye with internal CCTV and video doorbells

Internal CCTV cameras give you real-time updates on what’s happening inside your home - whether you want to watch over your pets in between visits from the pet-sitter, or for reassurance while leaving your home unoccupied for a longer period of time. Installing internal CCTV makes locking up and leaving your property even easier, as you’ll be able to check your home from your smartphone whenever you wish, and wherever you are in the world.

For the outside of your property, video doorbells send an alert to your device whenever someone approaches your property. You can even speak to the person on the other side of the camera – helpful if you’re expecting anyone to pop round while you’re away, or need to let a delivery driver know where to safely leave a package.

Why are new build homes a great choice for ‘lock up and leave’ properties?

New build Bellway homes are a popular choice for buyers searching for the perfect ‘lock up and leave’ property, because everything inside is brand new – from the freshly painted interior, to the high-quality appliances – meaning no costly or inconvenient renovations are required, and you can enjoy minimal long-term maintenance, and decorate as much or as little as you wish. Energy efficiency comes as standard in every new Bellway home, so you can enjoy lower running costs from the day you move in.

With a 10-year warranty and insurance protection for your peace of mind, and future-focused technologies, such as smart home heating systems available in many new Bellway homes, you can feel free to travel for as long as you need to. Plus, you’ll become part of an exciting new community when you move into your new Bellway development, with neighbours who will soon become friends, and help to look after your home while you’re away.

If you choose a Bellway or Bellway London new build apartment, you could look forward to benefits such as video entry systems and on-site concierge services, while your home itself is easy to look after – everything you require from a ‘lock up and leave’ property.

Begin your search today for your dream new build home with Bellway, and find out about the many great reasons to buy new, plus the unmissable buying schemes and incentives that are available to make your Bellway home more affordable.