How to prepare your villa for high season: A practical maintenance checklist for the Côte d’Azur

Air conditioning units work extremely hard in summer and are often used day and night. They are one of the most common sources of complaints and issues in high-season villa maintenance.

Before the season:

• service all units
• clean filters
• check drainage pipes
• replace weak or unreliable remote controls

Even minor A/C issues quickly become complaints during heatwaves. Good summer rental preparation starts here.

Showers, toilets and kitchen drains are used constantly in high season. In certain hillside areas (such as Les Issambres), older drainage systems block easily.

Check:

• that all drainage pipes run freely
• for early signs of blockage caused by excessive toilet paper or tree roots growing into older pipes
• boiler capacity and heating speed

A slow drain in spring can become a full blockage in mid-summer, often at the worst possible moment. This is a key part of preparing your holiday home so you can avoid emergencies.

Guests use appliances far more intensively than owners, and often all at the same time. This can overload the electrical capacity, especially when guests use pool heating.

In France, EDF works differently: you pre-select your electricity limit, and if guests exceed that limit, the main breaker cuts power.

Before the season:

• check whether your current electricity capacity is sufficient
• test major appliances (oven, dishwasher, washing machine, A/C units)
• confirm stable WiFi
• check outdoor lighting and timers

A simple capacity upgrade can prevent repeated outages in high season and help prevent guest complaints Côte d’Azur.

Pool water changes quickly in hot weather. Sunscreen, heavy use and high temperatures all affect the balance. In high season, most pools require twice-weekly service to stay clear.

Make sure:

• your pool receives frequent maintenance
• you have a reliable pool maintenance company
• your pool has a well functioning pump and filtration system and uses equipment that is not outdated and is replaced on time
  
  

A dirty pool is one of the biggest complaints we get throughout the season, and problems escalate fast if issues are not addressed before the season. Consistent property management Côte d’Azur can prevent many guest complaints.

Terraces, outdoor kitchens and furniture age quickly in summer. Sunscreen also causes stains on outdoor cushions, especially if they are not made from durable fabrics.

Check for:

• stained or worn-out cushions
• unstable sun loungers, outdoor tables or broken umbrellas
• rusted fixtures
• loose stones or tiles on terraces

Guests spend most of their time outdoors, so they notice these details immediately. Good villa maintenance Côte d’Azur includes both interior and exterior attention.

High turnover means items break or damage faster.

Ensure you have:

• mattress protectors and pillow protectors on all beds
• good-quality pillows (old, flat pillows should be replaced)
• enough replacement glass- and chinaware

Breakages are normal during a busy season, so it is important to have spares on hand.

What feels like a “small quirk” to an owner often becomes a frustration for guests.

Examples:

• sticky locks
• doors or shutters that jam
• windows needing “a special push”

Fix these before the season. In July or August, even basic repairs are difficult to arrange quickly due to demand peaks in property management Côte d’Azur.

The smoothest seasons are the ones prepared well in advance.

Before the season:

• finish all repairs
• confirm your garden maintenance and pool schedules early
• ensure you have emergency contacts ready, or work with a property manager who already has these contacts on speed dial
• ensure someone can access the property quickly for unexpected issues

A proactive approach avoids last-minute stress for both owners and guests. Good preparation is the foundation of successful high-season villa maintenance.