| Do you need it | | | | 2. Be sure they will visit before and after all major |
| Absolutely. I have a friend with a second home in | | | | storms to be sure the house is shuttered and |
| Idaho. They have a beautiful home on a small | | | | that any damage can be assessed and taken care |
| ranch that is for Christmas and summers. Its a | | | | of immediately. |
| short hop from northern California and its a | | | | 3. Repairs: Be sure to have a cap on all repairs. |
| beautiful state with inexpensive land values. They | | | | Any major expenses should be approved and you |
| got a lot of land, great views and space for a | | | | should be sent receipts for any work done above |
| very affordable price....at least to us Californians! | | | | the allowed amount. Try to keep the amount that |
| After being away from the ranch for most of | | | | does not need your approval below $750.00 |
| the winter, the family arrived only to find that | | | | 3.Vacation Home Rentals: Vacation home property |
| there had been a leak in the kitchen which had | | | | managers will manage holiday or off season |
| dripped for many months. Well, you can imagine | | | | rentals by the week or weekend. Some are set |
| the damage. The leak had wended its way from | | | | up to book rentals for you. You can expect some |
| the P trap below the kitchen sink to flood the lino | | | | kind of revenue share or flat fee service, but it |
| floors. It then slowly worked its way into the | | | | may be worth it. |
| hallway and the floor boards of the first | | | | 4.Be sure they will provide cleaning services and |
| bathroom. The damage was extensive. | | | | schedule maintenance |
| The Damage | | | | And Buy These Tools |
| First the lino had begun to lift up and the floor | | | | CO Monitor |
| boards below were wet and molding. The lino had | | | | A CO monitor will help you protect your family |
| to be removed and the floor boards had to dry. | | | | from the damaging effects of carbon monoxide |
| Then a mold cleaner was professionally applied by | | | | and give you the peace of mind in knowing that |
| a local company to be sure the family wasnt | | | | you are doing your part to protect your family. |
| exposed. | | | | Low prices on individual carbon monoxide |
| Then the floor boards in the hallway had to be | | | | monitors.They genreally run about $50 and can |
| replaced because they were thoroughly wet and | | | | save a life. Having one of thesse in your second |
| moldy. They would no longer lay flat and simply | | | | home is wise since the system may only be used |
| had to be pulled up and new boards laid down. | | | | for a few months a year and can become faulty |
| The entire house had a wet damp smell that | | | | without your knowledge. |
| would not go away. A wonderful family | | | | Water Shut Off Valve |
| experience was ruined because they did not have | | | | Sophisticated water-sensor systems automatically |
| anyone watching the home during their long | | | | shut off the water supply to a specific appliance |
| periods of absence | | | | or to the entire house when a leak is detected. |
| The Cure | | | | Basically, they sense when the flow of water is |
| Get a property manager. There are companies | | | | high and will shut off the water to prevent a |
| that offer management for vacation homes. | | | | prolonged leak when no one is living there. Some |
| They do manage a little differently, because they | | | | can be installed by a home owner; for others, a |
| are vacant for long periods and therefore they | | | | plumber must install the special valves and an |
| must be visited. Property management firms in | | | | electrician must wire the sensors. |
| rural or vacation areas have services designed to | | | | Web Based Video Cams |
| deal with the vacation homes special needs. In | | | | With an internet based video cam installed in your |
| addition to all the general property management | | | | vacation home, you can monitor for break ins and |
| needs all properties require | | | | have piece of mind. |
| 1. Find one that will visit the property bi weekly | | | | |