AI-Powered How to Maintain Your Vacation Home
Owning a piece of paradise is a dream for many.
Whether it’s a cozy mountain retreat or waterfront property along your favorite beach, it’s comforting to know that you can whisk your loved ones away to a fun vacation home that’s all yours.
But homeownership, even in an idyllic location, is serious business. Even if you live in your vacation home part of the year, it’s important to maintain its safety onsite and from afar.
In this article, we explore how to maintain a vacation home, including proactive projects and how to repair various damages.
Vacation Home Maintenance Tips
Don’t stress about not being in two places at once. Here are some helpful tips for general vacation home care.
When No One Is at Home
If you are going to be away from the house for weeks or months at a time, it’s a good idea to do the following:
- Install and monitor smart appliances and equipment
- Install and monitor security systems
- Give a reliable neighbor a key
- Hire a property manager
- Maintain a consistent indoor temperature
Nowadays, it’s easy to keep an eye on your house from afar with the push of a button or swipe of your finger. Smart appliances and security systems linked to your phone will let you know when there’s something wrong.
It’s also important to have someone you can count on to handle those emergencies in person, such as a trusted neighbor or property manager.
General Maintenance Tips
Whether you are staying in the home or want to prepare for being away from the house for a while, regular vacation home maintenance is important:
- Create an appliance maintenance routine
- Inspect and maintain the roof, gutters, and downspouts
- Plant and maintain the right trees, shrubs, and other landscaping
- Have your basement, crawl space, foundation, and concrete professionally inspected and repaired
All these actions keep your vacation house in tip-top shape and maintain its safety and value.
For other general home maintenance tips, you can check out our Winter Maintenance Checklist and Spring Home Maintenance Checklist.
Common Vacation Home Problems
Before we delve into the different kinds of vacation homes, it’s important to be aware of general issues that can occur in any home.
If the house is vacant or closed up long enough, it can develop problems such as:
- Frozen/burst pipes or plumbing leaks
- General leaking, flooding, and water damage
- Mold growth
- Musty odors
Staying vigilant, keeping up with regular maintenance, and assistance from foundation repair professionals will keep these issues at bay in your home away from home.
💡 Pro Tip:
The problems and maintenance tips we described not only apply to your vacation home, but your full-time home, as well. Issues can happen when you’re away from home, and it’s important to protect your house so you can vacation worry-free.
Types of Vacation Homes
There are many kinds of vacation homes, from apartments and condos to freestanding houses, cottages, and beyond. However, the most popular vacation homes include cabins, lake houses, and beach houses. Let’s look at each type, where they are commonly found, more typical issues, and how to manage a vacation home.
Cabins
A cabin in mountain communities like Grand Junction, Denver, or Colorado Springs is the perfect destination to ditch the hustle and bustle of daily life, take in nature and all its glory, and enjoy winter activities like skiing.
Some cabins throughout Colorado, as well as wooded areas in West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, were built on a basement or crawl space. These areas below the main living space are susceptible to damaging effects from weather conditions, especially rain, snow, and humidity.
While the more eastern states suffer from humidity, Colorado typically has an arid climate. However, drought followed by heavy rain can lead to water intrusion and foundation settlement. Springtime snowmelt can also lead to leaks and flooding.
The best way to address your cabin’s problems is with professional basement waterproofing solutions, including interior drainage and sump pumps, or crawl space repair and encapsulation.
Lake Houses
Many lake houses are popular along the Great Lakes in Michigan and Ohio, as well as Minnesota, affectionately known as the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Like cabins, lake houses often offer refuge off the grid for hiking, boating, and fishing. They, too, can have basements or crawl spaces and problems with water leaks, trapped humid air, and mold growth.
Another significant concern is their proximity to water, which makes the surrounding soil prone to washout and erosion. This causes problems like foundation settlement and uneven concrete slabs, both of which require repair.
Along with water and moisture management measures for basements and crawl spaces, pier systems like helical piers or push piers permanently stabilize settling foundations, and cutting-edge polyurethane injections lift and level sunken concrete slabs.
Beach Houses
While many lake homes are along a beach, houses situated on the Atlantic Coast, like Myrtle Beach’s Grand Strand in South Carolina, North Carolina’s Outer Banks, and coastal Florida typically come to mind when thinking about beach homes.
Most of these houses are elevated off the ground because of unstable sandy soils, hurricane threats, and high water tables. Instead of basements or crawl spaces, these structures were often built on “stilts,” meaning they have wooden supports or pier and beam foundations holding them up.
Coastal humidity, water, and soil erosion are the main threats to these houses. Typical problems they’ll suffer include foundation instability, wood rot, and mold. Foundation supports like piers will keep them shored up and stable.
Additional Vacation Home Care: Ready to Rent or Sell?
Do you want to bring in extra income by renting out your vacation home, or are you ready to sell it? In either case, it’s important to make sure the property is in tip-top shape.
Aesthetics, such as furnishings and appliances, are important to potential buyers and tenants, as are safety and turnkey properties. Don’t just throw on a coat of paint and call it a day. Ensure it’s watertight and structurally sound. This not only sets up the next occupants for success, but enhances property value and sellability.
Your Local Groundworks Company Can Help!
Keeping your vacation home a safe and fun getaway is important. There are many ways to do that, but for trusted fixes and lasting results, it’s best to have your house inspected and repaired by industry-leading experts.
With local offices serving more than 40 states, Groundworks Companies exist all across the country. Millions of homeowners have trusted us to repair and protect their most valuable asset, their home, including vacation homes.
Let us help you further secure your piece of paradise. Contact your local Groundworks Company today to schedule a free inspection and repair estimate.
Home Maintenance FAQs
Regular maintenance, proper drainage, and monitoring for early signs of trouble can help prevent many common foundation issues.
Encapsulating a crawl space helps to insulate the property, prevent frozen pipes, and improve overall energy efficiency.
It’s a good idea to get a foundation inspection every couple of years, especially if you notice damage. If you work with Groundworks to repair your foundation, you can take advantage of annual service and maintenance programs that include evaluations of your home and any repair solutions installed.
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