Preparing Your Home for Rent While You Travel
What to Do Before You Hand Over the Keys and Hit the Road
“We’re getting ready to travel full-time… and also somehow becoming landlords?”
If you’re planning to rent out your house while travelling long-term, congrats, you’ve just added “property manager” to your list of travel prep to-dos.
Whether your home is part of your funding plan or just something you’re not ready to let go of, renting it out can be a smart move. But it also comes with a lot of moving pieces emotionally and logistically.
This guide breaks down exactly how we’re prepping our home for renters while planning a year abroad with our kids (and a million other things).
Step 1: Decide If Renting Is Right for You
Ask yourself:
Will renting help fund your travels?
Do you plan to return to this home in the future?
Is the rental market strong in your area?
Can you mentally handle someone else living in your space?
For us, renting out our home meant:
Keeping a “home base” for later
Generating income to offset our travel costs
Motivating us to actually leave (seriously having a deadline helps)
Step 2: Declutter Like a Pro
Before you can hand over the keys, you’ve got to make space physically and mentally.
What we removed:
Personal items (photos, documents, memorabilia)
Anything we’d be devastated to lose (sentimental or valuable)
Excess furniture, decor, and chaos (the less cluttered, the better)
What we kept:
Essential furniture (beds, dining, seating)
Kitchen basics (don’t leave them 6 spatulas and zero saucepans)
A few homey touches, plants, neutral art, cozy lighting
Tip: A clean, functional space rents faster and rents better.
Step 3: Repair, Refresh, Repeat
No one wants to rent a house with that one broken cupboard and the leaky tap you’ve been ignoring since 2022.
Pre-rental checklist:
Patch & paint walls (neutrals are your friend)
Fix leaky faucets, squeaky doors, broken blinds
Replace burnt-out bulbs & check smoke detectors
Clean carpets or refresh flooring
Service heating/cooling systems
You don’t need to renovate, just make it feel solid, clean, and cared for.
Step 4: Store or Lock Up Personal Items
You’ve got two options:
Rent a small storage unit and move personal belongings off-site
Use a locked room, garage, or attic space to store items securely in-house
We’re going with option 2 — keeping one small room locked with:
Sentimental stuff
Extra clothes
Travel gear we’re not taking on the first leg
Documents + electronics
Label everything. Make it renter-proof. Then forget about it (for now).
Step 5: Set Up Your Rental Legally & Logistically
This part depends on your country, but here’s what most families need to consider:
Landlord insurance
Tenancy agreement or short-term lease
Permission from your mortgage lender (if applicable)
Property management company or trusted local contact
Rent collection method
Emergency contact for renters (not you in Colombia at 3am)
We recommend having a “home base contact” who can manage small issues or access if needed. Bonus if they’re organized and calm under pressure.
Step 6: Decide on Rental Type
Option A: Long-term rental (6–12 months+)
Steady income
Less turnover
Lower maintenance
Great if you’re gone for a year+
Option B: Short-term rental (Airbnb-style)
Higher potential income
Higher turnover
More cleaning/coordination
Best with a management company or reliable local cleaner
We’re doing a long-term rental, it’s simpler and gives us peace of mind.
Grab our free travel planning checklist below
Step 7: Final Prep Before Move-In
The last few days before departure will be wild. Grab our free checklist (Tania loves a checklist) so you’re not scrubbing the oven at midnight before a flight.
Final punch list:
Deep clean or hire a cleaner
Leave instructions (appliances, bins, WiFi, quirks)
Leave basic supplies (TP, soap, lightbulbs)
Check locks + spares
Take photos for documentation
Drop off keys to whoever’s managing (In our case estate agents)
Then walk out. Breathe. You did it.
Bonus: What Renting Out Our Home will Do for Us
Make our travel dreams actually possible
Give us a sense of security (if everything flops, we have a home)
Will help us let go of “stuff” and focus on experience
Showing our kids that home isn’t one place, it’s us, together
How to Prep Your Home for Rent Before Long-Term Travel
✅ Decide if renting is right for you
✅ Declutter + store what matters
✅ Repair, refresh, and clean
✅ Set up legally and financially
✅ Choose your rental type
✅ Prep for renters like you’d want to arrive
✅ Take a deep breath and get ready for takeoff
