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Monday 8am - 8pm Tuesday 8am - 6pm Wednesday 8am - 6pm Thursday 8am - 6pm Friday 8am - 6pm Saturday 8am - 6pm

Lookafter

Name: Lookafter
Address: Helmsley, YO625DT, GB
Telephone: 07856087653

Lookafter gives you this peace of mind. We are all or nearly all of what you need to look after your 2nd Home.

18/03/2025

Smoke Detectors - A Small Fix That Can Save Lives

Last week, during a routine check at one of the properties we Lookafter, we noticed a smoke detector was beeping - a clear sign that the battery needed replacing. We contacted the owners, and they agreed that at our next visit, we’d replace the batteries in all three detectors across all floors. It’s always best to stay on top of these things.

We’ve been to properties - not second homes, but homes where families live every day - and seen smoke detectors slid off their bases just because they started beeping and nobody bothered to replace the battery.

A couple of pounds, two minutes of work, and something that could literally save your life. Yet, so often, it gets ignored.

It’s such a simple fix - don’t put it off.

17/03/2025

Fault Finding - Always a Learning Curve!

A few weeks ago, guests at one of the holiday lets we Lookafter reported a fishy smell when using the electric shower. Our first thought? Plumbing issue. We contacted our plumber, who suspected a trap problem causing smells to come back up the pipes. We treated the drains, used cleaner, and that seemed to be the end of it... or so we thought.

Fast forward to this morning, and new guests reported the same fishy smell from the shower. This time, we took a different approach - Googling "fishy smell shower" in an electrical context instead of a plumbing one. Turns out, a fishy smell can also indicate a loose connection, a short circuit, or faulty wiring.

We called in our electrician, who came out this afternoon and found the isolator switch was slightly burnt! He replaced it, checked inside the shower unit and wiring, and now everything seems fine.

Another day, another lesson learned. Fault finding can be a real challenge - what initially seemed like a plumbing issue turned out to be completely unrelated!

11/12/2024

One of our clients, who live in Scotland, recently contacted us about a problem with the ceiling lights in their second home, which we look after in the next village. They had replaced some bulbs, but only a few worked, and they suspected an issue with the wiring.

We visited the cottage with our electrician and quickly discovered the cause: the old 12v lights with transformers were failing. The bulbs were halogen, which get very hot during use, leading to corroded bulb holders over time.

We proposed two solutions: either repair the existing lights by sourcing new bulb holders or replace all the lights with modern LED fittings. LEDs are a fantastic upgrade—they stay cool, are more energy-efficient, and last much longer.

The owners opted to replace all 23 lights. We ordered the new fittings the very next day, and thanks to our electrician’s weekend availability, everything was installed and working perfectly in no time.

Another home looked after, another happy client!

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07/12/2024

When we started Ryedale Cleaners about 15 years ago—yes, 15 years!—we used to manage holiday lets and cottages alongside our cleaning services. Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays were all about changeovers, and we often greeted guests and handled their issues. Some were small, like missing slippers or robes, and others much bigger, like no heating or hot water.

Years later, when we started Lookafter, we made a conscious decision to focus exclusively on second homes we care for—properties used by their owners, family, and friends—not commercially let properties. It’s even written into our contract.

However, the holiday let world is never far away, and this story is a perfect example.

There’s a holiday let next door to a couple of second homes we Lookafter . While we’ve only done window cleaning for this property, we’ve occasionally been called on to help with issues. Once, it was a smoke alarm battery beeping, so we replaced it. Another time, we replaced an oven—though that turned into a full oven and hob swap (check our previous posts for that one!).

Recently, the holiday let agency contacted us about a heating and hot water issue directly. After helping out, we spoke with the owners and explained that we usually work with clients who sign up for one of our packages. They were very interested, and this morning, they signed up for our Silver Package.

The Silver Package includes fortnightly property checks where, for instance, we always inspect the boiler and check its pressure as standard. This service is incredibly useful for remote owners during times when they have no guests.

The moral of this story? Opportunities really are just next door!

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04/12/2024

It’s never easy to lose a client. Thankfully, it doesn’t happen often at Lookafter, but the truth is, tomorrow is always uncertain. Rules and laws can change—sometimes dramatically—like the absolutely ridiculous proposal to introduce double or even triple council tax for second homes. Let’s be honest: this move won’t make houses more affordable for locals, but it could discourage potential buyers of second homes, directly affecting businesses like ours.

But this post isn’t about that. It’s about what happens when we do lose a client—usually because they decide to sell their property.

When that happens, we step in to make the process as smooth as possible. From liaising with estate agents, arranging valuations, and opening the property for viewings, to the final clean and handing over the keys, we do *everything* we can to help.

What’s amazing is when the story comes full circle, like it did recently. A client sold their second home, and it turns out the buyers are also planning to use it as a second home. Imagine our excitement when they called us after being *highly recommended* by the sellers.

After sending them our details, their response was immediate: 'We definitely want to use your services.’

We’re thrilled to welcome them as our new clients and look forward to looking after their home!

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03/12/2024

Yesterday, we came home to an unexpected delivery from John Lewis. Neither of us had ordered anything, so curiosity quickly turned into a lovely surprise.

Inside the parcel was a beautiful bottle of champagne and a card that read, *"Someone knows you well"* on the front, with Christmas wishes written on the back.

Every year, this thoughtful couple, whose second home we look after, send us something special, and it never fails to make our day.

We truly have the best clients ever – thank you both for making us feel so appreciated! ❤️🎄

09/08/2024

A Story of Perspective and Kindness

Recently, one of our clients found themselves in a tricky situation. After having their roof replaced a few months ago, they received a letter from their neighbor claiming that the Velux window, which is accessible from our client's extension roof, had been broken during the roofing work. The odd part?
The glass was broken from the inside.

Despite knowing they hadn’t caused the damage—our client had personally cleaned the window after the scaffolding was removed without noticing any breakage—they decided to offer to replace the glass to keep peace with the neighbor. They asked if we could help with organizing the repair.

We contacted a window company we trust, and they confirmed what we already suspected: our client couldn’t have broken the glass. In a refreshing display of honesty, the company didn’t just replace the window for profit—they pointed out that the issue was likely a manufacturing fault and advised us to contact Velux. As a result, Velux is now replacing both of the neighbor's windows for free.

What I love about this story is how it shows the power of perspective and kindness. Our client, though wrongly accused, chose to act with generosity. The window company chose honesty over profit. And in the end, the neighbor is getting two new windows, free of charge.

It all worked out well, but it’s a reminder of how differently things could have turned out had any of these pieces fallen into place differently.

08/08/2024

Great to receive a parcel with these new stickers! 🚚

At LookAfter, we truly take care of our clients, and some tasks, like annual boiler services, are essential. Keeping up with these services is crucial—not just for insurance purposes, but to ensure your systems are running efficiently and to maintain their warranty.

While we have notifications set for every repeated service, we also leave one of these handy stickers at our clients' homes (usually on the boiler) as a simple reminder.

Makes sense, doesn’t it? 🤔

04/08/2024

We are truly grateful for the trust our clients place in us. Starting in July, we have been continuing our weekly checks on a lovely second home that is undergoing building work for the next 8-9 months. (knowing trade and other stories, it's going to be a year...at least)

Despite the ongoing construction, our role remains just as important. We check while place weekly, sort through the mail, and forward anything serious to our clients in London. We also send them a photos with the updated progress.

We’re proud to be a reliable presence, and it means a lot to us to have such amazing clients who value our dedication and service.

Thank you for allowing us to take care of your second home during this time! 🏡

11/03/2024

Our latest project is underway!

Our decorator has started work on an exterior painting job, here in Helmsley, tackling window and door frames to give them a fresh new look.
Meanwhile, we're supervising to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Stay tuned for updates as we also plan to refresh the interior partly.

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your with us

Address

Helmsley
YO625DT

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 8pm
Tuesday	8am - 6pm
Wednesday	8am - 6pm
Thursday	8am - 6pm
Friday	8am - 6pm
Saturday	8am - 6pm

Telephone

07856087653

Website

http://lookafter.uk/

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