When you dream about owning a vacation home, perhaps the last thing you think of is a maintenance schedule. While co-ownership of a vacation home allows you to use your vacation dollars efficiently, it also increases the need for a maintenance schedule. A rigorously designed and followed maintenance schedule will lead to a happier and more rewarding experience for the entire ownership group and the maintenance expenses are shared by the group.
In your own home, where you spend the majority of your time, you notice the small things that can lead to big, expensive problems. A dislocated downspout is easily fixed, ensuring rainwater doesn’t flood the basement. But at your vacation home, you might not be there during a rain event, and you might not notice the puddle of water forming near the foundation. Regularly scheduled inspections would catch such issues before they blossom into disaster.
Regular visits from service professionals can be scheduled for when a co-owner will be at the property. And regular maintenance and inspection lessen the likelihood of having to get an emergency repair, which is expensive and may require an unplanned visit from an owner to oversee and approve the work. By coordinating planned maintenance events with known vacation schedules, owners can dramatically reduce costs and protect their investments.
When you are on vacation, you want everything to be shipshape. A ski trip to a house whose heater malfunctions is not enjoyable, an infestation of bees can ruin a planned lake house getaway with your girlfriends. The risk of any of that happening can be greatly reduced by following a detailed maintenance plan. Comprehensive schedules cover everything from annual maintenance of household systems to regular extermination services.
Worrying about a house 200 miles away that you visit once a month might deter someone from pursuing their dream of a vacation home. But with an active, software driven maintenance program, each owner can see what is scheduled, what maintenance has occurred and what the expected expenses are for the upcoming period of time. They will have the peace of mind that everything that can be done will be done to ensure their dream house is ready to be enjoyed on their next visit.
