With the return of sunny days, long weekends, and the prospect of summer vacations, country homes are unavoidable. Usually, they’re properties that cost more than primary residences because they don’t benefit from any tax incentive, except for seasonal rentals.
Beyond familiarizing yourself with the best tips for designing your country home, it’s essential you also inculcate some vital maintenance cultures to enjoy a comfortable holiday or retirement from the hectic city life. This task becomes easier with the help of a home maintenance checklist. So, look it up.
Tips for Maintenance
Experts estimate that the maintenance of a country home represents up to 5% of its annual market value. It implies that maintaining this type of home is quite costly compared to other residential buildings. Thus, to prevent incurring further expenses, you can acquire knowledge of some economic DIY household practices for your home.
Below are five tips to help you maintain your country home as a perfect residence for the holidays.
1. Build a Fence Around Your Land
We can’t overemphasize the importance of fencing a rural property. This measure helps to secure your environment from prey and wandering animals. It also prevents animals from having a field day on your land.
You can also impose reinforced locks or grills on your windows to prevent intrusion. Furthermore, building a fence around your property helps with marking your territory and warding off intruders.
2. Observe Field Maintenance
Despite its enchanting environment, your enthusiasm for living in this property may quickly decline because there’s usually so much to do. For instance, most country homes own a ranch or farm. Thus, occasions of broken farm fences is a likelihood. In such a situation, purchasing a stick welder for farm use will be in prospect.
There’s also the need for vegetation management. With a self-propelled mower, you can cut the grass on your acres of land. Moreso, acquire plant tools such as a garden tiller and compact tractor to help weed and plow your land. Clear the brush often if your building is situated below 200 meters from wood or forest to prevent wildfire.
3. Build a Shed
Although this may cost a few doughs, however, it’s worth the investment. A storage shed helps with storing your home maintenance equipment, consequently protecting them from rusting and wearing in a short while. Proper storage keeps your vicinity well organized, preventing dangerous animals from lurking around your home.
4. Treat Mold and Moisture
To prevent mold from forming during your absence, be sure to wipe off any remaining traces of water in the bathroom and kitchen before leaving your country home. If humidity problems persist, diagnose their cause, and intervene accordingly. Most times, this situation comes from cracks in the walls and the aging of plasters and joints or blocked gutters. This situation is mainly due to a lack of ventilation.
5. Combat Unpleasant Odors
Musty odors may arise if you just moved into this building. Spray some home fragrance to eradicate this smell. There’s also the issue of the septic tank odor. The maintenance of the whims of this area must be regular so that waste does not accumulate in the installation.
Purge your septic tank with toilet cleansers (If you can, use utilize vinegar). The micro-capsules it contains have a delaying effect, which maintains the balance of the pit for six months. Therefore, helping you to preserve the environment while you’re away.
6. Purchase Some Dogs
Dogs make great companies with their hosts. A country home is one of the best spots to enjoy their friendship and create a stronger bond. More importantly, given that country homes are mostly in isolation, having dogs within the vicinity help tighten your security. Moreover, intruders and pests will have a hard time breaking in or trespassing.
Your dog will assist you in not letting your guards down. This way, you’re sure to a certain degree about the safety of your life and property.
7. Cultivate a Maintenance Culture
It’s never enough to set up a barn or storage house and have a fence built around your property. It goes beyond all of those proactive measures. You have to be persistent with your maintenance practices. Keep the grasses short even before the weeds raise their ugly heads.
Ensure that your fences are not broken or destroyed to avoid a free pass for predators and intruders. Service your machinery and ensure their proper storage after each use. These will allow you to have a swell time in your country home for such a long time.
Finally, if you have to stay away from your country home for many months, know that there’re companies specialized in the maintenance of second homes. For monthly maintenance, the price is usually frugal for less than 100 square meters, while it’s costly for larger areas.
With some few dollars, you can maintain your country home to accentuate its aesthetic beauty and serenity just before or after having that holiday.
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