It’s that time of year again. Many Snowbirds are making the trek back to the Phoenix area to their vacation homes. How do you know if your home is ready for you to move back in? Do you just take the chance and hope that everything is as you left it? Or do you have friends who regularly check on the home in your absence? Do you ever hire a home inspection specialist for a thorough inspection before you make the trip? Let’s discuss those questions in detail today.
Is Your Vacation Home Ready to Move into?
I think most homeowners would agree that their vacation home needs some airing out and minor cleaning when they return after a lengthy absence. Make sure your home is move-in ready by hiring a home inspector to check things out. I would check the foundation for any issues, water pipes, windows, doors, and everything else on my normal checklist.
Do You Have a Friend Who Regularly Checks on Your Home?
One of the more rewarding things about living in the Phoenix area is the friendliness of your neighbors. Most of the people I’ve worked with throughout my years as a home inspector have been very friendly, helpful, active members of their communities. However, even if you have friends who keep an eye on things while you’re away, you should still schedule an inspection once every one to three years to ensure that everything is structurally sound and working as intended.
Do You Ever Hire a Home Inspector before You Move in?
You wouldn’t buy a home and move into it without an inspection first, so why would you move back into your vacation home without an inspection? Some very common issues include frozen pipes, water leaks, and roof damage due to storms. These things are fairly difficult to see from a distance or without entering the home. Your friend may do a wonderful job at making sure the obvious is taken care of, but would they notice a leak around the toilet before it does damage? Or a leaky pipe under the house? Or that swarm of termites that have taken refuge under your house?
Just a Few Things to Consider
My intention in writing this post today wasn’t to scare you into a home inspection; it was just to set the wheels into motion. I’ve seen amazing vacation homes fall to ruin because someone wasn’t there to catch a leak and the owners weren’t able to visit for a year. Don’t let this type of catastrophe happen with your vacation home.
A home inspection isn’t that expensive compared to the repairs you may be required to make if something serious does go wrong. Before settling in for the summer this year, hire a home inspector to make sure everything is in running order. It could save you a lot of money in repairs in the long run.
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