Category: Seashore Real Estate

Our balmy fall days will eventually fade to a blustery, cold winter  🙁

A check list for shore owners:

1) Disconnect the garden hose and turn off/drain any faucets that aren’t frost proof (most faucets on decks are NOT frost proof). Turn off and drain the outside shower (often overlooked and the pipes are the first to freeze and break).

2) Close the foundation vents and secure the crawl space door (the newer Smart vents will close automatically).

3) Secure/store trash cans, deck furniture, kayaks, grills, flags, etc.

4) Unless you completely winterize the house (drain the water), turn on the heat to 55- 60 degrees.  The upper floors can be set slightly lower, but not below 50 degrees.  A whole house water shut off valve is an extra level of protection against frozen pipes in the event of a power failure.

5) Open the cabinet doors below all sinks to allow heated air to circulate around the pipes.

6) Lock all windows (especially casement style that open with a crank handle) and sliding glass doors. Strong winds can vibrate a door or window open!

7) Unplug small appliances.

8) Check the kitchen sink for any random food items left in the garbage disposal – run with ice cubes or a piece of lemon.

9) Empty and turn off the ice maker if you won’t be using the house for an extended period of time.

10) Open the lid on the washer and prop open the door to the dishwasher to avoid musty odors.

And ideally, hire a winter watch service for peace of mind.  I am happy to recommend someone if needed.

Local residents definitely appreciate the perks of living “at the shore”.

For those of us working in tourist related industries, the summer is also our busiest time of the year.

So, the arrival of fall means it’s our turn for vacation!

Our travel is purposely planned to miss only one weekend of work.  I will be back in the office  Saturday morning, October 14th.

Will post a few pictures of our adventures on Twitter…

As the busy summer rental season winds down, this is a good time to review the most common tenant concerns/complaints.

Helpful information for shore property owners as we plan for 2018:

1) Trash – if too few receptacles (trash and recycling) or if the previous tenant fails to put the cans out in time for the scheduled trash days, the new tenants have no room for their garbage.  Options are to hire someone to haul away the excess trash, or purchase additional cans.   Although we mention the specific trash and recycling days to the tenants at check in, a note prominently displayed in the house (and plenty of cans) will help.

2) Grills-  the cleaning crews typically don’t check on the condition of the gas grill.  We rely on the tenant to clean up the grates after use.  Unfortunately, many forget.  Supplying a wire brush helps, along with a posted reminder to empty the drip pan below the grill.  With more property owners converting to a natural gas hook up, swapping out the propane tanks has become less of an issue.  But if you have a propane grill, leave an extra tank on site.

3) Electronics- every house is one wrong button or remote away from television frustration! Step by step instructions and labeled remotes are key.  A renter suggested a list of the TV channels?  “It seems to take me a while to learn where channels are and I forget year to year. ”

4) Beach tags- one of my owners had an excellent solution for beach tags.  He pinned the tags to one or two of the beach chairs they provided for the tenants. This way the tags stayed at the house at the end of the tenant’s week.

5) Cleaning- even with a thorough spring cleaning, properties start to show wear and tear by mid-summer.  Change over cleanings do not include ceiling fans, air conditioning return vents, deck furniture, outside showers, etc.  Worthwhile to arrange a more thorough cleaning by August, or if practical, ride down for one or two of the change overs to handle the extra items.

I am happy to walk through your property and discuss suggested rates and/or improvements.     ann.delaney@timkerrsir.com