Due to long periods of vacancy, the pest prevention strategy for a vacation home differs significantly from a permanently occupied residence — the core principles are prevention before leaving, maintenance during vacancy, and treatment upon return.

Prevention before leaving: Store all food in sealed glass jars or rigid plastic containers — do not leave any exposed food sources, including pet food and nuts.

Deep clean the kitchen, wiping down all countertops and cabinets to remove grease and food crumbs.

Empty all trash bins and take the trash away — a trash can is the most attractive source of organic waste for pests.

Repair all known water leaks — even a slow drip can go undetected for a long time in a vacant house with no water bill, creating damp conditions that attract pests.

Close and lock all doors and windows; inspect window screens for holes.

Maintenance during vacancy: If possible, maintain minimal heating (10–12 °C) in winter to prevent pipe freezing and excessive indoor dampness.

Consider using an automatically controlled dehumidifier to keep indoor humidity below 60% — use a drain hose connected directly to a floor drain to prevent the tank from filling up and stopping the unit.

Place slow-release cockroach gel baits and stored product pest pheromone traps in the property as preventive measures.

Upon return: Conduct a thorough visual pest inspection before turning on the heating — check kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, attics, and basements for rodent droppings, cockroach activity, or termite mud tubes.