Owning investment properties can be an excellent source of passive income for regional Victorians while also ensuring that you can keep a firm position in Melbourne’s competitive property market.
However, an investment property is precisely that: an investment, and as such, it makes sense to maintain and repair your holiday homes when required.
This article will share some key ways that you can care for your vacation properties, so read on to learn more.
Invest in Reliable Security Services
If you’re planning to advertise your holiday home on platforms like Airbnb, then you’ll want to prepare robust security measures for your property.
This includes installing secure locks and window latches and reducing the risks of tenants or guests gaining unauthorised access by making copies of your key.
A great rule of thumb here is to work with a local locksmith who will be available to answer emergency callouts.
You can find an ideal service provider by jumping online and searching for a ‘ locksmith near me’ to receive hyper-local search results.
By partnering with a local locksmith, you can ensure that potential security breaches are addressed as promptly as possible.
This will help to not only secure your property but also to protect the interests of visitors or guests.
The last thing any landlord wants is a tenant reporting lock or latch damage that has resulted in theft, loss or damage to the tenant’s own property.
Maintain the Gardens
First impressions last, and if your front and back gardens are in good shape, they will make a lasting impression on any guests staying at your holiday home.
Nothing will sour a good first impression as much as an overgrown garden, replete with weeds and long grass.
Much like connecting with a local locksmith, you’ll want to partner up with a local gardener to maintain your garden in a timely manner.
This home service provider will ensure your garden spaces are mowed, weeded and generally kept in excellent condition, with respect to seasonal garden maintenance considerations.
Alongside working with a gardener, you may also want to consider planting native grasses or hardy plants that won't die easily or require fiddly maintenance.
A garden that’s designed to be low maintenance will naturally also cost less to maintain, so consider your garden landscaping project to be an investment in its own right.
Plumbing Maintenance
Your vacation property guests won't have a nice time if they discover a blocked toilet, clogged sink or other malfunctioning plumbing.
Ensuring that your indoor and outdoor plumbing is up to standard is essential for a holiday homeowner.
Here, engage a licensed and insured plumber to keep the pipes open and flowing at your vacation properties, as well as check that your smoke alarms are working.
Your plumber will not only be able to address plumbing emergencies as they happen but can also facilitate a plumbing system maintenance schedule for your property that reduces the risks of a plumbing fault.
In this regard, staying on top of your plumbing maintenance can help reduce vacancy rates for your holiday home by ensuring it’s never out of commission.
Heating and Cooling Systems
In Victoria, with harsh, hot summers and wet and cold winters, your holiday homes should have functioning, efficient and comfortable heating and cooling.
Ensure that you invest in split system air conditioners, evaporative cooling or a ducted heating and cooling system to ensure that your home remains comfortable to spend time in all year round.
If you don’t, it’s a serious setback for potential customers, so consider investing in aircon installation when you can.
And much like your plumbing, part of ensuring safe and compliant heating and cooling systems means investing in ongoing maintenance.
Ideally, split systems should be serviced every one to two years, and ducted heating systems serviced every two years to ensure smooth operation and safety, including carbon monoxide tests.
You should also have windows that can open to promote passive cooling.
Maintain the Kitchen
The kitchen is one room that will see a lot of use in any holiday home, as your guests prepare, cook and clean up after meal times.
As such, you need to ensure that the kitchen is fit for purpose and functioning well.
You should ensure that you reseal around benchtops, clean the tiles and grout regularly and re-grout when required.
Ensure the area around the fridge is sanitised, and the freezer is regularly defrosted.
The kettle should be descaled often, which you can do easily by boiling some lemon juice and water in it.
Deep clean the oven after each guest leaves, and if you have a built-in dishwasher make sure that it functions properly and any errors are rectified and repairs done as necessary.
Bathroom Cleaning and Maintenance
The bathroom will also be used frequently, and as the landlord, you'll want to keep it clean, sparkling and fresh.
Start by removing any mouldy or dirty silicone seals and resealing them as necessary.
Clean the tiles and regrout where required.
Plunge the drains to remove blockages, and keep soft and fluffy new towels in stock unless guests are required to bring their own.
Regularly check the bathroom fixtures, such as the toilet, shower tray, bath and vanity sink, for leaks, and repair as required as per the above suggestion.
In the Bedrooms
You want your guests to feel comfortable, cosy and safe in their bedrooms.
Ensure that you regularly swap out tired, faded and pilled linen and old pillows.
Deep clean the mattresses and replace them if they have stubborn or unseemly stains.
You should also regularly flip or rotate the mattresses to keep them firm and supportive.
Carpets and Flooring
Finally, ensure that you keep the carpets and flooring in good condition.
Steam clean carpets when they require it, and regularly mop and clean hardwood floors or engineered floors.
If your hardwood, floating or engineered floors are chipped, scratched or marred, you can try restoring them or even replacing them if the damage is too much to repair.
Keep your Holiday Homes Maintained Year-Round
Keeping your vacation properties clean and comfortable from season to season can help ensure they remain in excellent condition for not only guests but also your own family and loved ones.
With these care tips in mind, you can maximise your return on your investment property in more ways than one, enjoying consistent rental income from short-term accommodation arrangements, and ensuring your family has a holiday home waiting for them when you really need a comfortable getaway.
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