When you have a summer rental, it is essential to care for the property to maintain its appearance along with preventing damage to the home. There are thousands of vacation property owners who have advice concerning maintaining a cabin, beach house or condominium. Use these techniques to keep your vacation property in the best condition.
Call a Plumber
If you notice any water spots on the walls or floors of a vacation rental, then you must call a plumber for a professional inspection. A building can have a leaking water pipe in a bathroom or kitchen that is causing damage or it could be that external water is getting in somehow, but no matter which it is, this problem will only become worse.
Routine Pest Control
You won't want to have a vacation rental that is infested with insects or rodents, so make sure to contact an exterminator to have the building inspected for pests such as cockroaches or mice after the winter has ended. In addition to controlling pests with chemical sprays or humane traps, an exterminator can provide advice concerning preventing infestations by sealing the cracks with a liquid caulking substance.
Maintaining Electrical Wiring
The individuals who rent your vacation home will want to use electronics and appliances safely, so you should contact an electrician to verify that the outlets, wires and switch plates are in the best condition every few years. Keeping the electrical wiring in optimal condition in your vacation property can also prevent dangerous fires.
Sanitizing a Vacation Property
After each renter leaves a vacation property, you will need to have the building sanitized. This can include scrubbing the bathroom and kitchen fixtures along with mopping or vacuuming floors. You may also need to have the carpets shampooed to remove stains and odors so that new renters won't complain about the condition of the vacation home. Decide whether you are going to do this yourself or if you are going to hire someone to do it for you.
Roof Inspections
If your vacation home is in an area that has hurricanes, then the roof can have damage after a storm occurs. You can inspect a roof on your own by climbing an extension ladder, but you may prefer to call a professional roofer instead. The cost may be worth the time it would take you to do it yourself. Make sure you check the roof often though as replacing missing shingles or fixing small holes in a roof is easier than waiting until the rooftop has severe damage.
Repair Climate-Control Equipment
Your renters will expect to have a functional air conditioner in a vacation property, so you must make sure that these items are working correctly. You can change the filters in these devices on your own along with cleaning the items or lubricating components. However, if the climate-control equipment still isn't working, then you will need to contact an HVAC company to take a closer look.
Swimming Pool Maintenance
It is vital to maintain the rental’s swimming pool by cleaning it out after the winter and then having the correct amount of chemicals in the water to destroy pathogens once it is filled up. You may also need to have a variety of safety devices in place such as a high fence, lockable gate and security alarms. If the pool's interior surfaces are crumbling, then you must have the swimming pool drained and repaired before it can be used again.
Fix Windows and Doors
If the doors or windows in a vacation home are defective or have been damaged during the winter, then you must fix them with new locks or window panes. If the window glass or door locks are broken by burglars, you can contact your insurance agent to determine if repairing these things is covered by your policy.
Mowing the Grass
You must have routine lawn care at your vacation rental so that the property looks good as people are passing by. In addition to mowing the grass, you will want to remove weeds along with trimming shrubs. If your rental is not in your same city, consider hiring out these tasks year-round so there’s less to do come summer.
Have a Written Maintenance Schedule
To keep track of the maintenance chores on your vacation rental property, make sure to have a written schedule, and also, keep in contact with the companies that provide maintenance services for you.
