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In Spain, many people own a second home. According to a study by Fotocasa entitled "X-ray of the status of housing in Spain" (2019), 61% of Spanish adults owned at least one home. The same study revealed that 22% of Spanish owners have at least two homes.
There are a number of reasons behind the phenomenon of second homes:
- A second holiday home that is purchased.
- A second home resulting from an inheritance, which can be shared with other heirs, for which a function must be decided: holiday home, purchase-sale, rent, residence or leave it unoccupied.
- A second home that is purchased in order to rent or sell it.
A second home involves extra expenses. The OCU estimates that this represents an average of about €1,800 per year.
We will be focussing on savings and maintenance in second homes for holiday purposes: That is, those where people go at weekends and at certain times of the year as an alternative to the habitual residence.
Calculating the electricity consumption for the house
It is important not only to calculate the electricity consumption for your second home but to identify when this occurs.
To calculate the electricity consumption for your second home, we recommend that you make a list of electrical appliances, including lighting and air conditioning equipment. Once you know how long you keep each one switched on, you then have to multiply this by the power for each device. Add up all the consumptions and this will give you the total consumption.
You can perform this operation by day, week or month. It is essential to establish when you use the second home (weekends and holidays, summer holidays, Christmas holidays, Easter holidays, etc.).
By adjusting the power in your contract you can save on your bill, but remember that if the power you select is too low there will be some disadvantages.
Once you are clear about these data, you can then check whether your electricity tariffs corresponds to the use you will make of your second home. If you price of energy is cheaper in those hours or days where you use your second home, you have made a good choice. If not, you need to analyse the tariffs offered by the retailers and find one that meets your requirements.
Endesa has tariffs designed to suit all situations. For example, with the Tempo Happy Day Tariff you choose the day on which your electricity consumption is free of charge: you can select the day you spend at your second residence and significantly reduce your bill.
Contact Endesa and we will be delighted to find the tariff that best suits your second home.
Check your installation
Another key to saving on the costs for your second home is the maintenance of your electricity and gas installations. Always remember that a well-maintained installation reduces the cost of repairs. Keeping up to date with gas inspections also provides a certain guarantee.
Having insurance in your second home can compensate you for any surprise payments to be made due to breakdowns. One option is to contract a tariff that combines a stable price, with no surprises, with a maintenance service that includes inspections and repairs, as well as protecting you in case of breakdowns. Examples of these are our 360 Plus Protection and Comprehensive Gas Maintenance.
Another option to prolong the life of your electrical appliances, improve safety and reduce costs is to turn them off during the time you do not spend in your second home. Some of those appliances that you leave plugged in when you are not living in the house continue to consume electricity as they remain on stand-by. This is why we think it is best to unplug them. Here are two suggestions:
- The fridge: If you are going to be away for more than three days, it pays to unplug it. Always remember to clean it properly and leave it open, then it will be ready to use when you return.
- Electric water heater: you should commit to efficiency and savings with this type of hot-water system. If you have it connected to a home-automation system, you can programme your arrival time and have hot water when you get there.
Finally, switch off the water if you are going to be away for many days without visiting the house.
Do not cancel your supplies
Cancelling supplies during the time you do not visit your second home entails an additional expense: you will have to pay to register them again. You also need to remember that if you suddenly decide to make an unexpected getaway or let relatives or friends use the house, you will need to register the supply urgently and this process takes a certain amount of time.
A commitment to energy efficiency
Finally, we would like to emphasise another key factor when it comes to saving: energy efficiency. From the insulation of the house, which will help you save on air conditioning, to the choice of models of electrical appliances, there are quite a few decisions to make when it comes to efficiency.
Always remember the importance of the energy efficiency certificate for the house and the labelling of the appliances: choose those with the maximum efficiency for maximum savings.
Finally, we recommend another possibility that we mentioned above but only in passing: home automation. Remote home management systems will enable you to control and minimise costs while enjoying your second home to the fullest.
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You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
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You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
Comparison of Electricity and Gas Tariffs
You don't need to adapt to Endesa's tariffs because they adapt to you. If you go to our catalogue you can compare the different tariffs for yourself. Or if you prefer, you can answer a few questions and we will take care of comparing all the different electricity and gas tariffs and then make a customised recommendation.
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