Have you ever wanted to just pack up, leave and get away from life to sit back and relax? Of course you have, all of us do. Our family has a very busy schedule and it seems when we are home there is always something to fix, to clean up, to attend, and so on. That is why we purchased a cute little bungalow house plan. It is about 90 minutes from our home. Close enough we make the trip frequently but far enough we don’t run home for responsibilities.
After getting everything fixed up the way we wanted, we started inviting guests out and it was soon named, “our vacation home in the woods.” We don’t get there as much as we would like but we didn’t want the upkeep to be a burden. In order to keep the home safe, secure and protected from wear and tear we took some precautions that are really quite simple.
In order to detract unwanted visitors we installed automatic lighting so the home appears lived in year round. Lights in the bedroom, kitchen and great room are all set on timers and automatically turn off and on. We contacted a local cleaning service that regularly comes in and dusts, vacuums, cleans the kitchen and bathrooms. That way it is ready for us when we arrive. We also installed a security system that is tied to the local police department so if there is a break-in they can get to the scene a lot quicker than we can. For added peace of mind we have neighbors drive by periodically just to check on the home. Of course they don’t mind because we treat them to a barbecue to show our appreciation.
Since it is in the woods we have plenty of pesky pests that would love to live there when we are not home. We have secured all the windows, doors and screens, we have patched holes in the exterior and have also placed mesh screen over the attic and dryer vents.
In order to protect the deck area we have secured the grill and patio furniture so that if a storm would come up these items would not blow around and damage things in their path. We turn off the gas to the grill and also put the furniture cushions in the garage for safekeeping.
As for the inside, during the winter we try to keep it at 50 to 55 degrees so the pipes don’t freeze. During the extreme heat of summer we set the temperature so moisture doesn’t build up and cause mold and rust. Usually in the fall and spring everything is okay. To avoid a possible fire we take the time to unplug the appliances, with the exception of the fridge.
We have created a checklist so that we take the necessary steps to maintain a beautiful vacation home. The cleaning service is also aware of the checklist so if we forget something they give us a call and check things out.
So far, all of our precautions have paid off and we have not had any problems. We enjoy our stress-free life at least once a month, if not two. If you have the means, you really should give it a try!
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