4 Ways To Maintain a Vacation Home from Afar

Working to maintain a vacation home from afar is likely easier than you may think! Consider our tips below from our real estate experts on protecting and maintaining a vacation home while you’re away. 

1. Leave a key with a trusted neighbor. 

While visiting your home away from home, take the time to get to know your neighbors. It’s likely that one of your neighbors lives there primarily and can check in on your home from time-to-time. 

2. Install a security system.

We suggest investing in a security system for your vacation home. This could be a front door alarm system, cameras, window alarms and more — the options are practically endless. 

This will allow you to monitor the activity in and around your home. Many homeowners feel more secure knowing they have visibility into their home, especially when they’re hundreds or thousands of miles away. 

Plus, in the event that something happens to your home, local authorities would be able to access your home more quickly. Otherwise, you may be completely unaware of incidents occurring in or around your home! 

3. Use an owner’s closet.

If you regularly have people entering your vacation home — whether it be friends, renters or even a property management team — use a designated owner’s closet for your personal belongings. 

Most homeowners don’t usually keep important documents or memorabilia in their vacation home. However, in the event that you do, seal these items in a waterproof bag inside of the owner’s closet. Keeping these items safely stored is a must-do for any vacation home owner. 

4. Carry out regular maintenance on appliances.

Last, but certainly not least, be sure to carry out regular maintenance on all of your appliances. This is key when trying to maintain a vacation home from afar. 

Just like in any home, each appliance in your vacation home, from the refrigerator to the dryer, needs regular maintenance to keep it clean and functioning properly — especially when they aren’t receiving regular use. If you’re planning to be away from your vacation home for months at a time, have a plan in place for appliance maintenance. Keep track of your maintenance schedule and be sure to follow through on scheduling routine maintenance. After all, preventative care is always more affordable than the alternative of replacing the unit entirely! 

Even from afar, there are plenty of ways to effectively and easily maintain a vacation home. As you consider buying (or building) the vacation home of your dreams, consult with one of our experts who can guide you through the process.