5 Tips for Owning a Vacation Home

You're the owner of a beautiful vacation home, but you have a few challenges to deal with now. Well, the following tips will make vacation homeownership a bit easier for you.

1. Home-Sitting is an Option

Vacation home sitting may not be the first thing you think about, but it could make your life a lot easier. While there are companies that provide professional homesitters to folks all over the nation, this isn't the only option. A professional will have references and the experience you want, like taking care of issues that might spring up. If you don't want to use a stranger, you could always ask a family member or friend. You're bound to have people in your life who are willing to stay there for some time. Allow several people to stay throughout the year so that it's not empty for long periods. They'll get to visit the area for free, and that's always an attractive offer.

2. Staying in the Loop

It's essential to stay in the loop. Try to keep in mind that, for at least a few months, the community around your vacation home is your community. What happens there will affect you at some point. This is the reason you need to find a way to stay in the loop. If you try to do this without an app like Nextdoor, it will be hard to do this even if you grab a few neighbor's numbers. The good thing is you have Nextdoor, which can help connect you with your neighbors. You get to be there for information while also remaining involved from afar. For example, you have the power to report racial profiling on Nextdoor right away. Doing so could help make your vacation community better.

3. Security is a Big Deal

The next thing you have to worry about is security. If you're not going to have a home sitter, you have to consider installing as much security as possible. This is your property, but you also won't be there for months. People tend to notice when a place is empty. Most people look at that and think nothing of it, but a few people see that as an opportunity to break in. A sound home security system can make a big difference. You'll want motion sensors, cameras, smart locks, and smart doorbells, just to name a few things. All of these tools should be wireless and able to connect to your smartphone when you're online. You'll be able to check on your property whenever you want.

4. Keep it Empty

Since you're not going to be there often, it's essential to keep it as empty as possible. The less you have there, the fewer chances of someone being tempted to break in and steal your stuff. It's vital not to leave anything valuable in plain sight, whether financially or emotionally. Some folks think they can leave things there if they hide them well, but that doesn't always work, so just keep it empty because it's safer.

5. Home Away Services

You're not going to be there to do some of the things expected of you, so you'll have to work with local contractors. You're going to have to ask these folks to come every so often to perform things like landscaping services to ensure your home looks as good as it should. Remember that regular maintenance helps reduce the chances of dealing with a significant problem later on. Whether owning or renting, a vacation home shouldn't turn into a financial burden, and if you don't want that, be sure to invest in local services as soon as you're able to.

Now, you have a few tips for owning your vacation home without hitting any snags. Talk to other vacation homeowners to see if there are other tips you can learn, and don't be afraid to ask questions if you have them.