Holiday Home Maintenance | A Complete Guide

If you plan to rent out your bach for the holidays, it's not as simple as listing the property and leaving your key under a doormat. You need to think about holiday home maintenance - an inevitable part of owning a property.

Here, we cover the why and how of holiday home maintenance. With this guide, you can quickly figure out what you need to prioritise with your maintenance checklist and how to maximise the appeal of your property to make holiday rentals a profitable venture for you. 

Bachcare can help with your Airbnb property management challenges and workload — from juggling multiple listings to hosting, finances , cleaning and keeping your short term rental property in tip-top shape.

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Why You Need To Stay On Top Of Holiday Home Maintenance

Home insurance does not cover the cost of maintenance of your property. You will only be covered for damage caused by sudden, uncontrollable events whereas breakages due to wear and tear are the owner’s responsibility.

In keeping your holiday home well-maintained and clean, you are keeping your property protected and also helping guests feel as comfortable as possible. This generally leads to further business from both them, and new customers brought in by positive reviews. A well-maintained property also costs less in the long run, as it reduces the risk of expensive repair costs and irrevocable damage.

So with this in mind, we're going to run you through some essential holiday home maintenance tasks that every property owner should go through before putting their holiday home up for rent.

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Kitchen

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The kitchen is often the bustling centre of activity during the holidays, and you should expect it will be no different for your guests. Make sure the kitchen is spotless and pay attention to these details:

• Tiling - If you have tiling in your kitchen, ensure the tiles are clean. If any are coming loose, you may need to re-grout your tiles to ensure they stay put during your next guest’s stay. Resealing the edges of the worktops can also prevent water damage and stop food and crumbs getting stuck in hard to reach places.

• Refrigerator - You want to clean and thoroughly sanitise the fridge to ensure there's no dirt or leftover juices from food previously kept there. Defrosting the freezer and giving that the same treatment is also periodically essential.

• Oven - Nobody likes cleaning the oven, but the more you can stay on top of its cleanliness, the easier it will be to clean!

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Bathroom

No one wants to utilise a dirty bathroom; it sends warning signs about the safety and cleanliness of the entire home! Keep an eye out for these issues, while maintaining your holiday home:

• Bathtub, shower, and sink - Reseal silicone from around the bath and shower, which can be a common issue due to the high levels of moisture. Frameless shower screens could be another option as well.

• Toilet - Plunge the toilet to make sure it flushes and has no chance of overspill.

• Drains - Clear out any blockages, especially in the shower, where hairs build up here over time.

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Bedroom

Maintenance in the bedroom should be relatively straightforward:

• Duvets and pillows - Ensure they are not too worn and be sure to replace them when the time is right.

• Mattress - Periodically flip the mattress over so it has even pressure from both sides. This should help it last a lot longer!

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Heating and Safety

You'll want to perform annual checks on all appliances to keep up with the holiday home maintenance. The systems you'll need to check include:

• Smoke alarms - Make sure these are working correctly, replacing the batteries if necessary.

• Fire extinguishers - It’s a good idea to keep a fire extinguisher for emergencies. Examine these to ensure they are well before their expiry date and the internal pressure is correct.

• Radiators - Bleed the radiators before the winter to release any trapped air bubbles. It ensures they're working to their maximum efficiency.

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Extra Checks

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The little details can make all the difference, and your guests will notice them. By tending to the cosmetics, you can help your guests feel comfortable and hopefully welcome them back next time!

• Ventilation - Make sure each room has sufficient ventilation. Clean the vents to ensure air can circulate freely.

• Dehumidifier - For damp houses, you want to get rid of the excess moisture with a dehumidifier.

• Door and window frames - If damp has caused rotting wood around doors or window frames, be sure to get them replaced.

• Paint - A fresh coat of paint can brighten up a room and make it look brand new!

• Carpets and upholstery - Steam cleaning can be useful in making fabrics appear less worn and more inviting.

• Pests - Particularly during summer, you can arrive at your holiday home to some unwanted guests! Make sure you have an exterminator visit if this is a known problem for your property.

• Lighting - Store some extra light bulbs in the property in case these happen to go out while your guests are staying.

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The Garden/ House Exterior

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The outside is the first thing your guests will see when they arrive, so you want it to look inviting. Beyond holiday home maintenance, sprucing up the garden will help raise the curb appeal of the house. Look to these areas to make your outdoors pleasing to the eye:

• Outdoor furniture - Make sure all outdoor chairs and tables are in good shape. You can touch up any paint and varnishing as needed. While you’re not using the property, it’s a good idea to store outdoor chairs in the shed or garage to keep them protected from the harsh New Zealand weather.

• BBQ - If you have a grill, make sure it is clean and has enough fuel. Unclean BBQs are often the cause of negative complaints, so we recommend doing this well ahead of the summer season!

• Garden -  Putting some time and care into your garden can go a long way. Plant and water flowers, tend to your lawn and trim back overgrown bushes and trees. Possibly look at some low maintenance trees for your front yard.

• House exterior - Check for cracks in the bricks and mortar work and peeling paint on exterior cladding - it might be a sign of water ingress so it’s good to stay on top of this with your maintenance.

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Though it may seem like a lot, it's a reasonably quick checklist to run through now and again to ensure your holiday home maintenance is up to speed. We also recommend spending a night in your property as if you were a guest. That way, you're far more likely to pick up on the little things you may miss during a visual inspection.

With this guide in hand, you are well on your way to making a pretty profit letting out your holiday home for short term renting.

Rent your holiday home with Bachcare for expert support in renting out your property! Our Holiday Home Managers can help with periodic deep cleans and maintenance, in addition to their day-to-day cleans before guests arrive.

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