Seasonal homes enable
families to have a vacation destination whenever they want. A home gives more
comfort for extended stays than a hotel, but it lacks the full-time cleaning
service available in a hotel room. Cleaning and maintenance protect properties
so they keep their value. Owners of seasonal properties should consider hiring services
for this purpose.
After a Stay
Homeowners may clean
before they return to their main residence but can miss things. A visit by a
cleaning service can take care of anything the owners missed. A full garbage
can in the kitchen or food accidentally left behind in the refrigerator could
cause the home to smell unpleasant by the time the residents return for their
next break.
Hire a team to do a
complete dust and vacuum service, wash all bedding, and clean the bathrooms.
The visit also enables another person to inspect the home to make certain the
family turned lights and appliances off, set the AC or heat to appropriate
seasonal temperatures, and secured the doors and windows when they left. A
simple inspection can avoid many types of potential damage.
The property owners
may want a service that can monitor (house check) the home if it will stay
empty through the summer months or extended periods of time. All properties
need some summer monitoring protection, especially in Arizona. Areas of the
most common concern are usually related to AC failures, pest intrusion, and
water damage from broken connections or roof leaks.
During a Vacancy
Some seasonal homes
sit empty for months and this puts them at risk of squatters and vandals, pest
infestations, and potential property damage. Consider hiring a company that
handles maintenance, monitoring, and cleaning. Tended landscaping, clean pools,
and clean driveways make the house look less empty and may help to keep
trespassers away.
Vandals and thieves
target homes that seem empty, especially if the homes are in popular vacation
areas. Break-ins draw less attention in vacant neighborhoods. A crime may stay
unnoticed for days or weeks and complicate insurance claims or make it
difficult to find the guilty party.
Squatters may take
advantage of a home that stays empty for months. In Arizona, squatters must
stay on a property for two years before they have any rights to the property,
so adverse possession laws do not affect seasonal users. However, the owner may
still face legal costs to remove people that have been on the property for
several months.
A monthly cleaning
service will air out the home to avoid stuffy, stale smells and keep your
investment in a ready state. A house checking visit, weekly or bi-weekly, to inspect
the interior and exterior may be all the home needs to keep things running as
they should and identify issues quickly before they become large problems. A company
that also performs maintenance services can respond quickly if plumbing,
heating, pest or other problems develop.
Before a Visit
A special visit from
the cleaning service just before the homeowner or their guests arrive for a
stay will ensure the house is perfect. The cleaning service can make certain
everything in the home gleams. The team can put on fresh bedding and put out towels.
Furniture and cushions will go back on the patio, and anything turned off for
the season is ready for use again.
Opening the house
prior to your arrival will help to make certain that water heaters, HVAC
systems, and all other plumbing and electrical systems work properly.
The tasks performed by
cleaning services or property management companies help to make a seasonal
home the restful retreat that it is intended to be. Families can arrive
and enjoy their stay rather than perform household chores, meet with vendors or
coordinate repairs. At
NorthStar Cleaning & Property Services, we offer everything you
need to keep your property safe and ready for use. Contact us today to learn
more.
