Leaving Zadar for several months while your apartment, holiday home or house stays empty? Preparing your property for a long absence involves more than locking the door. A clear record of its condition, agreed access and a plan for reporting changes help keep responsibilities clear while you are away.
This guide is for owners who live abroad or use their property in Zadar and the surrounding area only occasionally. It offers a practical departure checklist — without suggesting that a single visit can prevent every problem.
1. Record the condition before you leave
Walk through the rooms and photograph the areas that matter to you: windows, doors, walls, floors and accessible parts of the terrace or garden. Note existing signs of damp, damage or appliances that are not working. A starting record makes it easier to distinguish an existing condition from a change noticed later.
Tell the person who will visit which rooms they may access and what needs particular attention. Avoid relying on a vague instruction such as “just check everything is fine”.
2. Agree a plan for water, electricity and appliances
There is no single setting that suits every property. List the appliances and systems that need to remain running and those you intend to prepare for a period of non-use. For water heaters, air conditioning, pools and other installations, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and advice from a qualified professional.
Identify accessible shut-off valves and the electrical distribution board, but make clear who is authorised to operate them. A routine visual property visit is not installation servicing or a technical inspection.
3. Review doors, windows and outdoor areas
Before departure, check that doors, windows and access points are closed as intended. Store or secure movable items on balconies and terraces according to your property’s conditions. If you already know about damage that needs repair, arrange a qualified professional before leaving rather than relying on someone noticing it again later.
4. Organise access and contacts in advance
Agree how keys will be handed over and stored, who may enter and how visits will be recorded. Provide your contact details, a backup contact and the tradespeople you would prefer to use if needed. Do not share sensitive access information or entry codes in public messages or social media posts.
Set clear limits of authority: who contacts you, who decides whether a repair should go ahead and how you approve any cost. Having someone local does not mean giving them unrestricted authority to commission work on your behalf.
5. Agree regular visits and clear reporting
Choose a visit schedule based on your absence, your property and the agreed scope. You should know when the visit took place, which areas were accessible and what was observed. A useful report distinguishes “no change observed” from “could not be checked”.
The home watch concept centres on scheduled visual checks and informing the owner about apparent issues, rather than someone living at the property. The National Home Watch Association explains this concept. This reference explains the term; it does not imply that OwnerCare is a member of, or accredited by, that organisation.
Your departure checklist
- Starting condition and existing issues recorded.
- Appliance settings agreed using professional guidance.
- Doors, windows and outdoor areas reviewed.
- Keys, access and a backup contact organised.
- Authority and approval of costs clearly defined.
- Visits, reports and the issue-response process agreed.
How can OwnerCare help?
OwnerCare provides discreet local property visits in Zadar and the surrounding area, with digital reporting within the agreed scope. Read what we check and what we do not do. A visit does not replace a security service, technical inspection or repair, and cannot guarantee that no problem will arise between visits.
Planning a longer absence? Tell us your property’s location and how long you expect to be away so we can check whether we can help.
Useful links
How it works · Plans & prices · What we do not do · Report after a visit · Before we begin · Request an OwnerCare quote