How To Prepare Your Vacation Home For The Off-Season

2024-10-03
By: Advocate Brokerage

If you’re one of the many Americans to own a luxury vacation home, you already know that having two properties is twice the work. But, because you’re not always on-site, it pays to make sure that your secondary property is in good shape for the day you have to walk away for the season.

Today’s tips are brought to you by Advocate Brokerage Insurance Specialists.

• Evaluate your property insurance. All properties should be insured, and your vacation home is no different. Before you head out for the season, make a quick phone call to your insurance Advocate. You’ll want to make sure that the property has a comprehensive suite of coverages to safeguard your investment against natural disasters, theft and vandalism, snow or ice, accidental damage, or even other perils, such as civil unrest.
• Handle seasonal maintenance. Just because you don’t live there all year does not mean that your luxury vacation property doesn’t deserve TLC for all 365 days. Show your home some love by handling common seasonal maintenance items, such as cleaning the gutters, ensuring that windows and doors are sealed, and having the heating and cooling system fully inspected and serviced. You should also address any potential pest issues and winterize the plumbing system.
• Secure your security systems. Now’s the perfect time to upgrade or install a new security monitoring system so that you have eyes on your investment, no matter where you may be.
• Remove or secure valuable items. You don’t want to travel back and forth between properties with all of your valuables. But you also don’t want to leave them to chance. Invest in physical security features, such as high-quality deadbolts and exterior lighting. You might also consider storing irreplaceable items in a bank vault or secure storage facility.
• Check your liability coverage. Liability coverage can help protect you from financial losses if someone is injured on your property. This type of coverage will handle medical bills, legal fees, and property damage. Talk to your insurance Advocate today to confirm that you have enough liability coverage or if you need to add additional coverages to keep yourself and your assets padded from financial loss.

For more information on how to properly protect your luxury vacation home, contact the vacation home insurance specialist Advocate Brokerage today.