Closing up your Spanish home for the winter

How you leave the apartment in October decides what you walk into in April. Owners tend to prepare carefully for arrival and leave in a rush — and it is the leaving that matters more, because the home then sits alone for months.

Water and electricity

• ·Close the main stopcock, and the inlet valves to the washing machine and dishwasher
• ·Drain the washing machine filter and leave its door and the dishwasher door ajar
• ·Pour a little water into rarely used drains before you go, and again on each visit, so traps do not dry out and let smells in
• ·Leave power on if a dehumidifier, alarm or fridge needs it — otherwise switch off non-essential circuits
• ·Empty and clean the fridge, then leave the door propped open

Air, textiles and surfaces

• ·Wash and fully dry all linen before storing it — anything faintly damp will smell by February
• ·Store textiles loosely with airflow, not sealed in plastic
• ·Leave interior and wardrobe doors open so air can move through the whole apartment
• ·Position moisture absorbers in bedrooms, wardrobes and bathrooms
• ·Clean thoroughly before leaving — crumbs and residue are what attract insects over winter

Terrace and security

• ·Clear terrace drains, and store or secure furniture, parasols and light planters against winter storms
• ·Arrange watering for anything living — or accept that it will not survive
• ·Redirect or stop post; an overflowing mailbox is the clearest possible signal that nobody is home
• ·Do not close every shutter tight for months — an obviously sealed apartment reads as empty
• ·Leave a set of keys with a trusted local contact, and tell your community administrator who that is

What should continue while you are gone

Closing up well is not the same as leaving the property unattended. Between October and April the Costa del Sol gets its heaviest rain, and an empty apartment with no visitors is also the profile most exposed to illegal occupancy. A visited home looks lived in: post cleared, shutters moved, lights varied, terrace used.

We keep homes looking occupied and documented through the winter — see keyholding and property checks in Estepona, the full property management service, and why regular checks matter here. When you come back, we prepare the home so it is aired, clean and warm before you land.