How To Get Your Vacation Home Ready For Summer

It might not feel like it just yet, but summer will be here before we know it! Now is the time of year to think about getting your vacation home or rental ready for the summer season. 

You and your family likely haven’t visited that lake house or cabin since the close of the season last year. That means you need to take extra precautions to make sure your vacation home is safe and ready for you.

Tips For Opening Your Vacation Home

Stop And Make A Plan

As tempting as it can be to “just drive up and check the house”, take the time to make a plan. Make a list of services you need to turn on since they’ve been shut off over the winter. This can include electricity, water, trash collection, and more.

This is a good time to double-check your insurance policies. If you notice your vacation home has sustained damage over the winter, you need to have that information ready to access.

Focus On Safety First

After a winter of being closed up, your vacation home needs a little extra care to make sure it’s safe and ready to enjoy.

• Check the furnace and replace the air filter.
• Make sure your pipes are free of rust and damage before you turn your water back on.
• Check screens and windows for broken glass, holes, and gaps.
• If your vacation home has a deck or porch, look for signs of wood rot and storm damage
• Make sure there is no debris in the gutters and your home’s downspouts are free-flowing.
• Test the batteries in all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing them as needed.
• Check all the locks and deadbolts to make sure they are still working the way they should.
• Plug in electrical appliances and lamps to ensure they all still work.
• Check walls and floors for mold, especially in the bathrooms, attic, and crawl spaces.

Clean Everything

It’s amazing how dirty a house can get even with no one living in it. Now is the time to put the elbow grease in and give your vacation home the deep cleaning it needs.

From carpets to tile and cleaning out those appliances, be sure you’re prepared to get your vacation home clean and sparkling. Remember, if your carpets could use a deeper cleaning, Lake City Restoration provides professional carpet cleaning services!

Supply Basic Necessities

Once you’ve made sure your home is safe and all systems like HVAC and water are intact, it’s time to make sure your home is ready to host your family and guests.

• Go through your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer and dispose of any expired foods or food that could have been contaminated by mice, insects, or other factors.
• Turn on the fridge and freezer and let them run for several hours before refilling them with food.
• Check your bathrooms and make sure you re-supply them with toilet paper and toiletries.
• Stock your shelves with sunscreen and insect repellent, being sure to throw away any old and expired products.
• Replace old sheets and towels that might have been left over from last season with clean, fresh bedding and towels.
• If your vacation home has WIFI, check that connection and make sure all of your TVs and devices are intact and still working.

Take A Look Outside

Have your trees and bushes been damaged by winter storms? Is your roof missing a few shingles? Now is the time to inspect the outside of your vacation home and make note of any potential damage.

Be sure to avoid any broken glass, exposed nails and screws, spilled chemicals, or other items that could be unsafe.

Lake City Restoration’s storm damage repair team is here to help you every step of the way. We can even help you file the right home insurance claim before we start your repairs.

Remember To Stay Safe As You Get Your Vacation Home Ready

If you arrive at your vacation home and notice standing water, significant damage to the roof and/or windows, smell gas, or suspect a leak, make sure you prioritize your safety first!

Move away from your house and call emergency services right away, especially in the event of a potential gas leak, or ongoing water damage.

Lake City Restoration Is Here To Help

If you’re getting your vacation home ready for the summer and need help repairing water damage, winter storm damage, or just need help getting your neglected carpets clean, our restoration team is here to help!

Originally published in 2021, this blog post has been updated to include the latest information and relevant links.