Months of heat, closed rooms and monsoon dust take a toll. The checklist our estate managers use to open homes before owners return.
Every October, a wave of our clients returns to the Valley after a summer away. Their homes have spent four or five months closed up in extreme heat, and monsoon storms have pushed fine dust through every seal. A seasonal opening turns a dormant house back into a home before the owners arrive at the door.
Two weeks before arrival
Our estate manager walks the property two weeks ahead with a checklist built from the house manual. The goal is to find anything that needs a trade while there is still time to fix it.
- Check for leaks under sinks, around water heaters and at ice makers.
- Look for pest activity in garages, pantries and casitas.
- Confirm the HVAC is running properly and filters have been changed.
- Test pool equipment, irrigation and outdoor lighting with your vendors.
- Flush toilets and run every faucet to refresh traps.
The opening clean
About three days before arrival, a full team completes the opening clean. It is closer to a deep clean than a standard visit, because dust has settled everywhere, including places that are normally touched every week.
We start high and work down: ceiling fans, light fixtures and tops of cabinets first, then walls and art frames, then furniture and finally floors. Sliders and window tracks get special attention after monsoon season, when dust drifts in around the seals.
A seasonal opening turns a dormant house back into a home before the owners arrive at the door.
Linens and closets
Stored linens are aired, and bedding is laundered and pressed even if it was clean when the house was closed, since months in a warm closet leave a stale smell. Wardrobes are aired, and any garments stored in bags are checked for moisture or pests.
The kitchen and pantry
Refrigerators that were switched off are cleaned, deodorized and turned on 24 hours ahead so they are cold on arrival. Pantry items are checked for expiry, and with your shopping list we can stock essentials such as coffee, milk, fruit and sparkling water.
The finishing touches
- Fresh flowers in the entry, kitchen and primary suite.
- Beds turned down with a carafe of water on the nightstand.
- Thermostats set to your preferred arrival temperature.
- Outdoor furniture cushions returned and patios swept.
- A handwritten note summarizing anything we found and fixed.
Closing the house in spring
The reverse process in April or May is just as important. Linens are laundered and stored, refrigerators emptied, perishables removed, and the home is left in a state that will make the next opening easier. Our Estate Circle membership includes both the seasonal opening and closing, plus weekly home watch visits while you are away.
If you split the year between Arizona and another home, talk to your estate manager about scheduling your opening now. October dates fill quickly.
