Articles: Six tips for enjoying your holiday home SB May 2007

Before you make the final decision on buying your holiday home, make sure it’s what you really want.  You have made such a huge commitment in money and time – this may make you feel obliged to spend all your holidays there.  Is that what you want?  Or will you miss jetting off to a variety of places?

And don’t forget your holiday home will take up additional time and effort.  Holiday homes need maintenance just as your main home does.  Be prepared to have to keep going down there to deal with repairs and sort out problems.  When you’re the owner, it’s not ALL holiday. 

Double up on all essential – and not so essential – household equipment in your holiday home.  It’s a nuisance having to remember to take the corkscrew and the kettle every time.
 

Make an effort to get to know the local people.  In some areas there is a lot of resentment about holiday home owners who don’t contribute much to the local community.  Support local businesses and join a local organisation or two.  Use the local pub!  Don’t take all your provisions with you if there is a local shop where you can get them.  Making an effort will minimise the risk of resentment from local residents.
 

Try to make friends with the neighbours and see if they will keep an eye on the holiday home for you.  Invite them for drinks or a barbecue sometimes.  You could pick up some useful tips on how to fit in with the local community.

Clean up before you leave, so it’s welcoming for you when you come back. 
 

Try to keep the holiday home occupied as much as possible.  Let friends and family use it when you’re not there.  The more it’s occupied and warm, the better for the structure of the house and the pleasanter the atmosphere will be.
 

It’s nice to have a garden, but don’t fill it with lawns and flowerbeds that need lots of attention.  You don’t want to spend your whole weekend weeding.  Keep it low maintenance.

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