One of life’s greatest joys is owning a holiday home – it’s the dream, isn’t it? A special place close to the sea, or near the mountains, or in the middle of no where away from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Your own paradise that you can escape to when the realities of the working week start to weigh you down. A place where you can create treasured memories with your family, and something you can pass down for the coming generations to enjoy. The truth is, there is a lot to be considered when looking after your holiday home, especially if you’re just going to use it sporadically. Here are some helpful tips for looking after your holiday home:
1. Think About Maintenance
This is especially true if your home will be near the ocean, as salt water can work it’s magic on properties, making them age much faster. Maintenance can be a really big expense when maintaining a holiday home. If you’re in a good financial position, you’re probably going to have to spend a lot of money on ensuring that things are taken care of, even if you’re not using it that much. I have family friends who exchange use of their holiday home a few times a year, in exchange for a husband and wife duo to perform basic maintenance on the home. There’s other options, like listing it on websites like WOOFING and allowing responsible travellers to stay there in exchange for maintaining the property or garden. These are important things that cannot be overlooked, because a few years of neglect can turn a gorgeous holiday home into a huge financial burden.
2. Be Informed About Holiday Home Insurance
You may be surprised to know that one in five home insurance claims are not covered due to the clients not understanding exactly what the insurance provides coverage for. As such, it’s imperative that you spend a moment checking your home insurance policy to see what’s covered. I understand this can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t have a background in legal terminology. I found this helpful holiday home insurance quiz by Schofields that will help you to be more informed what’s covered and what’s likely not. Check it out if you’re not 100% sure of what everything means on your policy, it will help you become more informed.
3. Consider Having Someone Local Check In
It can be a great idea to hire a gardener or someone to take care of the property. This ensures there’s someone visiting regularly to check out how the property is, that no damage has been done to the property, so that you can enjoy peace of mind. The truth is, a holiday home is a great asset and you have to be sure it hasn’t been broken into or anything like that, especially if you’re visiting infrequently. It can be a good idea if you have some neighbours nearby, to offer to check out each other’s property just so that someone’s keeping an eye on it when you’re not nearby.
4. Check Out Renting Your Property
If you only use your property once in a while, it could be good to consider listing it on Airbnb, in order to generate some extra income – some of which can be put into your house to cover maintenance and other associated costs. It can be a great additional source of income too!
A holiday home is such a great family asset and one that can be enjoyed throughout the generations, use these tips to keep your holiday home in tip top condition.
