Whether you will be personally enjoying your vacation home this summer or renting it out to vacationers, it’s good to go over some checkpoints before you officially can deem your vacation house open for the season – especially if you haven’t been around since you locked up last fall.
General vacation home prep steps for summer:
- Do a quick walk-around before anything else to see if the exterior needs any immediate maintenance (i.e. loose siding or trim, cracks, crumbling mortar, siding that needs to be washed…) – don’t forget to inspect the roof too!
- Show your lawn some love: fertilizer, cutting down the dead grass, new seed, etc
- Wash and treat wood deck as needed
- If you have an air conditioning system, have it checked – before you actually need to use it
- Check your home for bugs (by a professional)
- If you have a basement, it’s good to look for signs of leaks and dampness – before mold or water begin to accumulate.
Planning to rent out your summer pad while you aren’t using it or to bring in some extra dough? Here are some extra steps to help you prep your summer home for a renter:
- A quick run-through and inventory will pay-off in the long-run:
- If you will be providing various items (bedding, glasses, dishes, pots/pans), make note of them and the condition they are in – replace those that are especially worn
- Clean your curtains, linens and upholstery
- Lock-up valuables that you don’t want guests to be using. It’s a good idea to include this “off-limits” area in the lease
- Test out appliances, light bulbs, smoke detectors and electronics to make sure that they are working properly
- Arrange for trash pick-up and lawn care (unless you will be mowing regularly) in advance
- Check railings, stairs (indoors and out), walk-ways and fences for potential safety hazards
- Provide an additional propane tank if you are providing a grill for guest use.
An important summer kick-off step that falls under both of these categories is to make sure that your Massachusetts Home Insurance, or whatever state your vacation home is in, is up-to-date by simply placing a quick call to your Massachusetts Insurance agent. Since you might not be at this location very often, you may take for granted the standing insurance coverage that you have at your year-round home. But, with barbeques, friends, family members and renters around, overlooking your seasonal home insurance in Massachusetts is definitely a path that you don’t want to take!
No Comments on "Your Massachusetts Home Insurance and your Home away from Home"