Vacation homes are awesome! You get to literally experience the luxury of a home away from home. Of course, like everything worth enjoying, vacation homes take work so here are 3 tips for you on maintaining a vacation home.
Regular Inspections
Regular inspections are how you’ll get ahead of potential issues. Early detection really means saving both time and money.
So, you want to schedule periodic walkthroughs where things like your plumbing, roofs, and windows are thoroughly checked out for any signs of damage and leaks. Likewise, a structural assessment for your foundation, walls, and ceilings to look for cracks or signs of structural damage.
And that’s not all. You really want to monitor for pests like termites or rodents because an infestation can be a nightmare.
For example, a quarterly inspection during the spring where a small water stain on the ceiling is caught could mean the difference between fixing a minor roof and shelling out money to fix extensive water damage.
Seasonal Preparations
Unfortunately, different seasons bring unique challenges to a vacation home and so seasonal preparations mean your property is well-maintained and ready for specific weather conditions, minimizing the risk of damage.
What do you need to do? Well, that depends on the season. For example, in winter you want to:
- Insulate pipes to prevent freezing
- Check for snow accumulation on the roof
- Maximize your HVAC system’s efficiency
In summer:
- Trim trees, bushes, and grass so there’s a much less chance of fire
- Seriously figure out ways for pest control
- Service and really clean AC units
For example, in winter insulating your pipes stops them from freezing during a cold spell. Otherwise, chances are your pipes burst, causing extensive water damage so that your vacation home likely becomes uninhabitable until costly repairs are made.
Remote Monitoring Systems
Smart home technology allows you to monitor and manage your vacation home remotely, which means peace of mind as you can quickly respond to potential issues.
You want to install cameras at key entry points and make sure you can access live feeds readily, perhaps through a mobile app, so you can check on the property. Likewise, sensors in critical areas are a good idea to monitor temperature changes; such as alerts if temperatures drop to levels that could mean freezing pipes. In fact, you could install detectors near water-prone areas to detect leaks and get notifications if a leak is detected that you can handle properly from wherever you are.
For example, while away, you’re digitally alerted that the temperature in your vacation home has dropped significantly. Using a smart thermostat remotely, you adjust the temperature so that your pipes don’t freeze over, saving you from all that money on urgent repairs.
Your vacation home should be a vacation! So keep these tips in mind so you don’t spend the time fixing damage.
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