7 things you don’t have to do when going on holiday from an apartment

After the rain around Christmas day, this summer stretch in Auckland has been stunning.

We’ve been talking with a few people who will be moving into Outlook later this year about their summer rituals. For many, the summer break means getting away from home and enjoying the beach house, spending time in the sun and relaxing with friends and family.

Regardless of what you do while you’re away, with a conventional house, getting away means a list of several other ‘rituals’ that we’d all like to avoid.

Our Outlook purchasers can stop reading now, but if you’ve not yet decided to move into a community like Outlook Mission Bay, here are 7 things you’ll need to have on your ‘to do’ list before you pack up and head out next summer.

1. Arranging for the lawns to be mowed

With a mix of long sunny days and the occasional shower, summertime is when we find the Kiwi lawn grows so fast you can almost watch it. It’s a sad sight to arrive back to an overgrown paddock, so arranging someone to keep it at bay will be on the list.

2. Weeding and watering the garden

A well manicured garden can be a beautiful part of outdoor living, but it turns into a jungle in no time over summer. Staying on top of the weeding and watering means you can return to a manageable garden instead of a wasteland. So, finding someone to weed and water makes it onto the list.

3. Clearing the mail

The mail doesn’t stop just because you’re not at home, so to avoid having the letterbox overflow, asking your neighbour to clear it out for you will certainly be on the list.

4. Put some lights on timers

While you’re away, you don’t want your house to look like you’re away. The standard method is to get some timers positioned around the house and connect up some lights so that it appears people are in the house. Does anyone remember where the timers are?

5. Dealing with the security alarm

Sure, you can just set it and forget it, but experts suggest that you should let your monitoring company know you’ll be away so they can take appropriate action knowing you’re not in the house. And if you don’t yet have your system monitored, you’ll want to get that sorted as well. A blaring siren for a week doesn’t impress the neighbours. Add it to the list.

6. Battening down the hatches

One thing we know living in New Zealand is the weather is unpredictable. It’s not uncommon to have a rogue summer storm come through with high winds and torrents of rain. When you’re at home, you can go tie down the trampoline and batten down the hatches, but if you’ve already left, it’s too late. To avoid getting the call from the neighbours about the deck chairs you’ve donated to their yard, add this one to the list.

7. Planning the first shop home

Walking back in the door after an extended break can mean setting up home again, complete with making sure there’s food in the fridge and amenities in the cupboard. The dreaded first shop isn’t something you want to be thinking about on Sunday night before a Monday start, but it’s also not always easy to stop by the store on the way home.

No more To Do list at Outlook Mission Bay

With the security and convenience that comes with living at Outlook Mission Bay, heading to the beach house can be a stress-free last minute decision. The gardens and green spaces are professionally maintained year around. Mail is delivered into a secure box without the need for daily collection. The buildings and homes are completely secure, meaning no need to worry about lights, security companies or weather. And to top it off, Outlook has a shopping drop area to allow your ‘get home’ shop to be done online and delivered even before you walk in the door.

Get in contact to learn more about joining the Outlook Mission Bay community.