Practical guides
Check on your home in China while you are abroad
A dated, room-by-room update can help you decide what to do next about an empty property. Start with a defined visit; agree cleaning or maintenance separately after reviewing what is found.
Make access and the inspection list specific
Confirm that you can authorise entry and identify the person handing over the key. Provide the city, property type and rooms to visit. List visible points that matter: damp patches, open windows, signs of leaks, accessible meter readings or mail left at the door. State which cupboards, belongings and rooms should remain untouched. Agree key collection, return and a contact if the building cannot be entered.
Ask for observations you can act on
A useful handover pairs a wide photo of each agreed room with close-ups of specific concerns and short notes. Request the visit date, which areas were accessible and which items could not be checked. A photo of a stain can support a decision to call a specialist; it does not establish the cause. Distinguish a visual home check from a structural survey, valuation or technical inspection.
Approve additional work before it starts
If cleaning is needed, agree rooms, approximate condition, supplies and rubbish removal before booking it. Repairs, moving furniture or meeting contractors need their own scope and approval. Set a limit on incidental purchases, name the person who can approve changes and choose a private channel for the report. Repeat visits can follow a checklist informed by the first visit rather than an assumed full property-management package.
ILLUSTRATIVE REQUEST · NOT A CUSTOMER STORY
Example: a first visit before arranging a clean
I live overseas and need a visit to my two-bedroom flat in Changsha. My relative can provide access. Please photograph the agreed rooms, check the visible area below the kitchen sink and record the accessible meter readings. Send a short list of cleaning needs. Please ask me before buying supplies or arranging repairs. This is a sample brief; availability and the quote depend on the actual address and scope.
What to confirm in the quote
Confirm the visit duration, travel, access or waiting time, report format and any cleaning coordination. Cleaning labour, materials, repair providers and purchases should be separately identified. Agree what happens if the key is unavailable or the visit must be rearranged. ChinaMate quotes each task individually.
Your first-message checklist
- City, property type, authority to enter and key contact.
- Rooms, visible checks and areas to leave untouched.
- Permitted photos, private recipient and handover date.
- Spending limit, approval contact and key-return plan.
