Opening a vacation home When it’s time to visit your vacation home for the first time, or start renting it out for the season, you’ll need to get it ready. A ski chalet might require you to shovel snow and chop firewood, while a summer retreat by the shore might call for cleaning patio furniture and staining the deck. Much depends on how well the house is maintained throughout the year. Opening your vacation home could be as easy as stocking the pantry, or if the house was neglected in the offseason, you could have multiple repairs on your hands. A well-maintained vacation home shouldn’t take more than a day to get in shape for the season, assuming no major repairs are needed. Here are some typical opening chores:
- Turn on utilities
- Clean and stock kitchen and bathrooms
- Look for evidence of plumbing and roof leaks
- Cut lawn and trim shrubs/trees
- Clear walkways and driveway
- Set up outdoor furniture
- Change light bulbs and smoke detector batteries and carbon monoxide detector batteries
- Replace furnace filters
- Check for signs of pest infestation