Completion is a legal milestone, but it is also the point at which practical responsibility for the property becomes yours. Before returning abroad, create a usable record of the home.
Inventory every means of access
Count front-door, secondary-door, mailbox and garage keys, gate controls and alarm fobs. Test them and record any missing or unreliable item. Consider changing locks where key history is uncertain.
Photograph condition
Create clear photographs of rooms, walls, ceilings, equipment and external areas. Note visible defects separately so later changes can be identified. This is a practical baseline, not a substitute for a professional building survey.
Record systems and readings
Photograph utility meters and identify water controls, the consumer board, hot-water equipment, air-conditioning, internet equipment, pool systems and irrigation controls. Gather manuals and service records where available.
Build the contact file
Keep condominium, alarm, insurance, pool, garden and trusted technical contacts together. Confirm who may access the property and how work will be authorised whilst you are abroad.
Put care in place before leaving
Choose an inspection schedule, document how systems should be left and arrange the first visit. Guardemar’s property handover service can lead directly into ongoing private property care.