If you own a second home for family use or for renting out, know that it needs just as much TLC as your primary dwelling. However, since your second home would usually be located in an area far from you, maintenance can be a challenge. Then again, it runs the risk of deterioration if not maintained well enough.
We at Coldwell Banker Lake Chelan Properties understand the difficulties of personally seeing to the upkeep of your second home. To help you out, here are some tips for ensuring optimal care and maintenance of your second home, whether you already own one or you’re planning on buying one.
Be proactive about repairs
Carry out regular and routine maintenance repairs before warning signs of problems begin to manifest. Doing this saves you from costly headaches in the long run.
Check if the essentials are properly working such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, HVAC systems, and lighting and plumbing fixtures. Inspect all rooms for any moisture or wear and tear on the ceiling or walls and look out for cracks on floors and windows.
If you can allot a budget to it, you can get the services of an on-site contractor who can do the maintenance work for you on a regular schedule. Should you decide to do this, make sure to keep track of maintenance schedules through alerts via email or mobile phone.
Deep cleaning
There’s nothing like some deep cleaning to ensure that your second home is a place worth living in by humans and not a mini-jungle reclaimed by nature. Especially in this time of COVID-19, having a clean and pathogen-free home is important for anyone using it, whether it’s you and your family or transients renting your place.
Ideally, deep cleaning should be done every six months. In planning for this, it is wise to make a checklist covering interior and exterior areas and estimate how long it will take to complete each cleaning task. Also, be systematic in your cleaning. Start from top to bottom in each room.
Deep cleaning can be overwhelming and takes a huge amount of time. If you would rather delegate this task, then hire a professional cleaning crew from the area to do the deep cleaning.
Invest in smart home security systems
Even your second home can be converted into a smart home. These tools and systems ramp up the security of your second home, boost comfort and convenience, and add value to the property.
Protect your second home with professional home security systems, smoke alarms, and water sensors. Invest in some smart home gadgets like smart locks, smart lights that you can automate, and a smart thermostat.
Rent out your home
Instead of letting the property sit idle, you can opt to rent out your second home when you’re not using it. Turning your property into a short-term vacation rental is a great way to obtain additional income and offset maintenance costs.
You can hire a reputable property management team to handle the upkeep for you. Their job includes handling the daily operations of the vacation home, responding to queries and concerns, rent collections, marketing, and dealing with maintenance calls.
Lake Chelan, a favorite tourist spot in Washington State, is an ideal place to buy the second home of your dreams. Consult with our team at Coldwell Banker Lake Chelan Properties to learn more about this wonderful area, as well as other nearby communities. Call us at 509.682.7777 or contact us here.