Welcome back to part two of our series on tips to help you maintain your vacation property or second home while you are away. In the first part of this series, we discussed some important elements of home ownership that included cleaning for being away and how to monitor your utilities. Today, we will offer a few more tips.

Maintain landscaping.

Whether you are around or not, you’ll want to keep up on landscaping at all of your homes. Not only is it embarrassing and stressful to arrive at your summer home to be greeted by a foot of unmowed grass and weeds, but it is usually against HOA guidelines to allow your landscaping to go. If you are a snowbird or own vacation homes, it is highly advisable to hire a landscaping company to manage your lawn. They can handle snow shoveling and de-icing in the Delaware winter and keep your lawn watered and manicured in the summer.

Think about safety.

There are many things that can happen to homes over its lifetime. People who occupy their homes all the time are acutely aware of safety concerns or violations as they happen, but you may not know if you are not there. Get to know your neighbors! They can be your eyes and ears when you are not around. If you are close enough, you may trust them to have a key to your home to check on things if need be. Also, always be sure to keep in constant communication with community leaders to let them know when you are away, so they can keep an eye on your property. Additionally, you can avoid returning to damage by following a few simple safety tips.

  • Invest in a home security system that can be monitored remotely and ties into your home fire monitoring/alarm system.
  • Make sure you have a carbon monoxide monitor installed.
  • Double-check that all windows, doors, and your garage are locked before leaving for the season.
  • Keep up to date on annual maintenance for your plumbing, HVAC, and electrical systems.
  • Keep up to date on routine maintenance — roof inspections, gutter cleaning, etc.
  • Keep trees trimmed.

Prepare for your return.

When you return to your vacation home, if you have followed our tips, you should come home to a clean, comfortable home! Once you arrive, plug in your appliances and relax. If you have invested in remote utility products, you should be able to set the air to a comfortable temperature during your travels so that it is set when you arrive. You may need to run water through your plumbing system and change your air filter.

The Peninsula on the Indian River Bay of the Delaware Shores has everything you need for your first night back home. Come have dinner at the restaurant and enjoy a game of golf. Or, simply kick your feet up and relax on your balcony knowing that everything has been taken care of while you were away.

Vacation homeowners and snowbirds are always welcome at the Peninsula on the Indian River Bay. This resort-style community situated on a gorgeous Jack Nicklaus golf course on the breathtaking Delaware Shore offers all the amenities you need to ensure that your stay is comfortable and relaxing, whether you are home for the weekend or you live here all year. For more information about how we can help you be a successful vacation home owner, contact us or stop by to tour our community. We have vacation homes for sale as well as lots for building. Come home for the weekend at the Peninsula On the Indian River Bay today!