Guides
Getting your second home ready before you arrive
Arriving at a house that's been closed for months often means spending the first day getting it going again. There's a better way.
Onekis · Published on September 28, 2026 · 4 min read
When to plan
As soon as your dates are set. In high season on the French Riviera, from May to September, cleaning teams, gardeners, pool technicians and drivers are in high demand. A request made a few weeks ahead leaves time to organise everything — and to fix any problem found during the preparation.
The preparation checklist
A full preparation usually covers:
- Full cleaning and airing of every room
- Fresh linen, beds made, towels
- Air conditioning or heating switched on a few hours before you arrive
- Fridge stocked from your list
- Pool checked and garden tended
- Transfer from the airport or station
- Special touches: flowers, wine, a cot, your guests' needs
Check before you prepare
Good preparation starts with an inspection: if there's a leak, a broken appliance or a stuck shutter, it's better to know a week before you arrive than on the evening itself. At Onekis, arrival preparation builds on regular oversight of the home and is confirmed to you before you travel.
