Of course, the very second you buy a holiday home, you’re rearing for this house to actually become your home – well, second home, the home away from home is more like it. And sure, the whole concept of buying a holiday home sounds dreamy until the practical side is there. You don’t really want to think of the practicality because this is your getaway, this is meant to be a hotel, this is meant to be the space where you’re supposed to have next to no responsibility. But no, it doesn’t really work like that, though.
There’s the pretty view, the weekends away, the idea of having a place that feels calm and special, and yeah, of course that part is exciting. But brand-new buyers can get caught up in the location and forget that beach houses, lake homes, cabins, and countryside places don’t really operate like regular houses in a quiet suburban street, or an apartment in the city, or whatever else. Typically, Mother Nature is a bit harsher.
What Protects the Home?
Well, it’s the roof, the siding, the walls, your fence if you want to get technical, there are plenty of other things that are technically protecting your home too. But just generally speaking here, though, a first holiday home can make people want to buy outdoor furniture, decorate the bedrooms, and choose cute plates for slow breakfasts on the deck, which sounds so amazing, and sure, totally fair enough here. But those protective aspects are the most important here, though.
The problem is, a lot of holiday homes don’t get as much love and care as they deserve since they’re not lived in all that often (and being stagnant has its own problems too). But the roof, gutters, drainage, exterior paint, seals, and flashing all deserve a proper look before the place gets treated like a finished getaway. For example, when was the roof replaced? If the house is brand new, then you might not have to worry, but if the house is at least 15 to 30 years old, well, you might need to contact a roofing contractor because there might be a chance that the roof could potentially need a whole replacement (as that’s the typical lifespan of a roof).
This is just an example here, but again, holiday homes tend not to get as much maintenance as a regular house, so you need to be aware.
Make the Outside Easier to Ignore for a Few Weeks
And something else to keep in mind here is that holiday homes have to cope without constant attention. That’s the part new buyers don’t always think about. So, a regular home gets little checks without anyone noticing, like spotting a blocked drain, seeing water pool near the steps, or noticing a gate that doesn’t close properly. But a holiday home can sit there quietly collecting problems until the next visit. Well, it goes back to what was mentioned above.
But low-maintenance exterior materials can make ownership feel a lot less tense. For example, composite decking, hardy outdoor finishes, some good drainage, weather-resistant fencing, and easy-clean outdoor surfaces can all help. Which might sound horrible, boring or generic, but if you’re not going to be there all that often, don’t you want it to be easy to take care of?
Yes, You Need to Think About Security
Be it a gated community, a holiday park, or a fancy neighbourhood, it doesn’t matter; your home might get targeted, especially if it’s super obvious that people aren’t living there all that often. But yes, holiday homes are targeted for theft and vandalism, and sometimes even squatting too. So you’ll need to look into security cameras, alarms, motion lighting- all of that sort of stuff.
