What do you do with your house when you're on a 6-month tour

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Crankarm

Guru
Location
Nr Cambridge
Why not attach a tow bar to your bike and a towing eye to your house and take it with you?
Surely if you are both in well paid jobs over 50, no kids, you would have paid off your mortgage so aside from bills and Council Tax the over heads on the house would be pretty low? Ok you might need some to visit once a week, fortnight or month to check the mail and cut the grass but not much else. Just turn off the water, gas and electricity. If you don't have a mortgage and little of real value then don't bother with insurance unless your house insurance is cover for you and your bikes on tour?
 
Why not attach a tow bar to your bike and a towing eye to your house and take it with you?
Surely if you are both in well paid jobs over 50, no kids, you would have paid off your mortgage so aside from bills and Council Tax the over heads on the house would be pretty low? Ok you might need some to visit once a week, fortnight or month to check the mail and cut the grass but not much else. Just turn off the water, gas and electricity. If you don't have a mortgage and little of real value then don't bother with insurance unless your house insurance is cover for you and your bikes on tour?

That is nearly the situation we are in, except we still do have a mortgage, and will have for the next 13 years. Financially we are "comfortable" on a month to month basis, but don't have enough excess to be able to just walk off..... hence the question about renting out etc really....

Order of preference so far (in terms of buggeration of organising) :-
1. Leave it empty, and make allowances for household liabilities as well as living expenses for the trip - Least aggro-highest cost option
2. Find someone to act as caretaker for the time we're away - some buggerance - some bills covered, but mortgage etc still to be paid.
3. Rent out the place - lots of aggro, but most household running costs paid.
4. Sell up and relocate on our return - most aggro, and not a "zero cost" option as we will still have to store our possessions until we buy a new place.

Mrs W is broaching the subject with her HR department this afternoon, so we'll know if it's a "goer" or not today...…

:-)
 

alicat

Legendary Member
Location
Staffs
Good luck this afternoon.

Option 4 would still have you renting for a while on your return unless you can come back mid-tour and find a place to buy.
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
Whatever option you take, you should inform your mortgage lender as well as your home insurer.

Somewhere in the mortgage there will be a condition about the borrower not occupying the house or leaving it empty for more than a few weeks at a time.
 
Location
España
I've checked this out previously, albeit in a different jurisdiction.
Most likely insurance will be null and void after a certain amount of time empty. Not an issue if you're worried about theft and have removed your valuables. A bigger issue if your house burns down or if a neighbour/member of public has a problem that would normally be covered by your insurance. A fine tooth comb is required.

Renting or housesitting can cause a problem with mortgages and/or insurance. Most mortgages require the resident to be well, resident. Similarly with some insurances. The reality of discovery vs punishment is something only you can decide.
There is also the possibility that your tour takes longer or shorter than you originally intended. Coming home early may mean you can't get into your home until the lease is up.

Letting out through an official agent may be the best solution in terms of long-term security, perhaps not the best economically. They should be familiar with all paperwork required and be able to advise on all options.

You should also check out CrazyGuyOnABike for inspiration but also to make contact with those in similar situations to you to see what they did and recommend.

Best of luck!
 

I like Skol

A Minging Manc...
I do house/doggie sitting, not too sure if I would want to do it for 6 months
You'd have to get someone to look after your house :wacko:
 
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