Leaving the house empty?

[garbonzo]

Silly question. When we finally retire, move to PI (hopefully Dumaguete), we'd be traveling fairly often back to Australia or going to other places. When you folks go on vacation...do you lock up and leave the house empty, leave the maid to watch over it, or get relatives to stay in it while you're gone? My wife doesn't have any Dumaguete relatives (maybe that's another good point ) but there are a few relatives in Bacolod area, pluz a zillion in Manila that we could call upon if we had to. Just wonder how you all do it...and come back to everything intact.

[The Dane]

We havent had to leave the house over an extended period of time here yet, and I am a bit in doubt what to do in case we have to.

The longesst we have been out of the house and left it completely empty is around 8 hours on a beer trip in to Dumaguete

depending on the setup I would probably leave the maid here, especially in a house with an external maids quarter so you can still lock up the main house and she can stay in her area and watch over things.

[garbonzo]

Thanks Mr. Dane. I have heard a couple horror stories and want to learn about how Dumaguete people handle this. I heard about an Australian on Mindanao a couple years ago (I'm thinking CDO but really can't say for sure). Anyway, left for a shopping trip into the city (they built a nice house in the hills) came back in a couple hours. House empty...I mean empty...furniture, clothes, dishes, appliances, all gone...neighbours knew nothing of course...

I think that would be my biggest concern. Happens anywhere...we've been done in Australia ourselves..didn't steal everything..just valuables they could flog easily. So we are really curious if you folks, for example, find your maids trustworthy and dependable enough to take care of the place for a week or two...or use relatives...friends house-sitting etc.

[theo54au]

Garbonzo, we have been in Dauin, stayed at a resort and found many beach homes unattended for the duration of our stay of 10 days. It seems to be safe there. However, Dauin is not Dumaguete. We have the same plan as you, Stay for a period of the year in Dumaguete were we have bought our property,(Well, in Dauin to be precise) and part of the year back home in Brisbane.

[pickled_newt]

Originally Posted by theo54au

Garbonzo, we have been in Dauin, stayed at a resort and found many beach homes unattended for the duration of our stay of 10 days. It seems to be safe there. However, Dauin is not Dumaguete. We have the same plan as you, Stay for a period of the year in Dumaguete were we have bought our property,(Well, in Dauin to be precise) and part of the year back home in Brisbane.

Many beach homes unattended in Dauin ? This must be a brilliant news for band of thieves and burglars .Hope they don't find their way online to this thread.;-D

[PhilT]

Dont like to say this but if you lived in your wifes hometown you could leave the house in the hands of her family...unless you distrust them also. Or maybe thats why you moved away from them in the first place. you do need the support of the family like that at times. Better to trust your family / in laws, you can always lock up your private stuff in your bedroom, and let them oversee the house. whatever. just my thoughts, not to be taken to heart.

[Union Jack]

Right now I've been back in the UK for a couple of years and have gratefully left the house in the hands of my wife's cousin.
I think what is important is the level of trust you get from friends or relatives.
I personally stay well away from people whom are not shy of asking gifts or seem to be too clever or well informed as they will eventually reveal their true colours. I've noticed that normally shy or respectful and grateful people are normally trustworthy but that is only something you get to know with time.
I also believe it's best not to leave your house keys to someone who has no other place to live or lives very far, else you will find it difficult to get your house back! On the other hand you need someone to mantain your property and keep it looking occupied......The idea of the live-out maid could be a good one, but to whom are you leaving the keys in an emergency? By the way, never tell anyone when you plan to return!!

[Kenny]

A few years ago I thought I had it figured out. I removed everything that could be moved and paid my father in law to watch things. He pulled out and sold the toilet bowls in order to go to a cockfight. I swore I was going to leave him laying by the side of the road when he died but I wound up paying for the funeral. As they say "You pays your money and you takes your chances". It's all pretty funny in hindsight. Good luck and keep your sense of humor.
Kenny

[Kinhason2]

Originally Posted by pickled_newt

Many beach homes unattended in Dauin ? This must be a brilliant news for band of thieves and burglars .Hope they don't find their way online to this thread.;-D

Hi Pickled_Newt and theo too!
I live in Dauin and most of the beach homes there might appear that nobody's around but they do have a caretaker that looks after the property.

[daffs]

Originally Posted by Union Jack

Right now I've been back in the UK for a couple of years and have gratefully left the house in the hands of my wife's cousin.
I think what is important is the level of trust you get from friends or relatives.
I personally stay well away from people whom are not shy of asking gifts or seem to be too clever or well informed as they will eventually reveal their true colours. I've noticed that normally shy or respectful and grateful people are normally trustworthy but that is only something you get to know with time.
I also believe it's best not to leave your house keys to someone who has no other place to live or lives very far, else you will find it difficult to get your house back! On the other hand you need someone to mantain your property and keep it looking occupied......The idea of the live-out maid could be a good one, but to whom are you leaving the keys in an emergency? By the way, never tell anyone when you plan to return!!

The best thing to do ….don’t build a house when you are not fully living there.To be away from all the “head aches “.