Everyone loves a good vacation, and the option of having a private retreat is one of the many perks of owning a vacation home. With the soaring demand and interest in vacation towns and affordable suburbs, there's no better time to jump on the opportunity to own a vacation home than now. 

Whether you're taking in the last snowy days at your retreat in Whistler, BC, or you’re looking to invest in a sunny escape in Fort Worth, TX, it’s critical to close up your vacation home properly at the end of the season to ensure your property is safe when you're back at your permanent residence. To help you get started, this eight-point vacation home checklist will make it easier to maintain your vacant home while you're away. 

Vacation home checklist: what to keep in mind

A home away from home can be a great investment and a handy retreat for vacations. However, making sure you're sustaining and securing your property during vacant months will help prevent potential problems while you’re away. These can include:

• Frozen pipes and leaks

• Downed wires

• Fallen trees

• Pests and animals 

• Mold

• Theft and vandalism

Thankfully, there are steps you can take to prevent these potential issues from becoming a vacation homeowner's nightmare.

Secure your vacation home

1. Install a home security system

Leaving your home unoccupied for a season could leave it more vulnerable to burglaries or vandalism. A home security system is your first line of defense when you're away, whether it's your vacation home or full-time residence, and will allow you to monitor your home remotely. Some security systems can also include flood monitoring or smoke detection, giving you additional peace of mind. Depending on the system you choose, some may even come with an automation function that will allow you to schedule lights or turn a TV on and off, giving the appearance of an occupied home.

2. Make sure you have sufficient lighting

To deter opportunists from approaching your vacation home at night, illuminate walkways, entryways, windows, and any dark corners with outdoor motion-sensor lights to startle would-be intruders. Indoor lighting is also critical in ensuring your home looks occupied from the outside as well. Simple outlet timers can help turn lamps on and off at intervals to make your vacant home look occupied. Keep in mind that when using outlet timers indoors that you ensure it's visible from the outside, even through curtains or shades.

3. Consider smart locks 

An essential step in your vacation home checklist is ensuring all windows, especially those on ground level, and doors have secure locks. Alternatively, you may also consider installing smart keyless locks that will allow you to grant remote access to neighbors or housekeepers. These locks provide additional control, security, and convenience, and may give you better peace of mind knowing you won't need to keep track of any keys. 

4. Adjust any blinds or shades and secure the windows

The key to deterring any surprises while you're away is to make your vacation home look as if it's being regularly visited, so be sure to include leaving any blinds or shades partially open in your vacation home checklist. Doing so gives the impression that your vacation home is occupied, and those passing by will see the lights through the blinds at night without being able to see fully into the house.

5. Ask your neighbors for help

Getting to know your neighbors can offer another line of defense while you’re away. Instead of leaving your key in a well-known hiding spot, give a spare set to a trusted neighbor so that they have access to the home in case of emergencies. Plus, it’ll ensure that you have another set of eyes watching over your home for suspicious activity. 

Assemble a team of professionals

6. Consider hiring a landscaping service 

Untidy hedges, overgrown grass, weed-infested gardens, or even overgrown shrubbery are dead giveaways of an unoccupied home. While a lakefront home in Seattle, WA might not need frequent upkeep compared to a beach house with a large lawn in Orlando, FL, investing in a routine landscaping service to maintain your property while you're away will keep up the appearance of it being regularly visited. Plus, trimming trees and shrubs around the house will prevent them from blocking views of the house and removes any hiding spots for burglars.

7. Invest in a quality housekeeping service to maintain your home’s interior

If you’ll be leaving your vacation home unoccupied for an extended period, adding a regular cleaning service to your vacation home checklist will make returning even more welcoming. In fact, your housekeepers will be able to deep clean the hard-to-reach areas that are usually left out when your home is occupied for the season - like laundering the curtains, cleaning air conditioning vents, and shampooing the carpets. When you return to your vacation home, you won’t have to worry about dust build-up or stale odors from your home being left unoccupied.

8. Find a reputable property management company

The final item on your vacation home checklist is to find a property manager. If you lack a flexible schedule or don’t live locally, a property manager can relieve the everyday stress of maintaining a vacation home from afar. Property managers act as the point of contact to manage your home and can conduct regular walkthroughs to ensure your home is protected. Some companies may offer seasonal services such as preparing your home for winter.

Originally published by Redfin