Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours us also an AirBNB so it's used, cleaned and checked often. Thanks to the government shut down we had a vacancy for 2 weeks and you won't believe the amount of dust that piles up. We also have a lot of remote monitoring devices on the home.

yours is not a second home

it is

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ours us also an AirBNB so it's used, cleaned and checked often. Thanks to the government shut down we had a vacancy for 2 weeks and you won't believe the amount of dust that piles up. We also have a lot of remote monitoring devices on the home.

yours is not a second home

Who are these people gatekeeping second homes? And why?

We have a second home we don’t rent out, but I can’t for the life of me fathom being such an a-hole that you would tell people that theirs is not a second home because they do…

Anonymous wrote:Same answers here but will mention a tip. If you find a handyman or cleaning person you really trust there, I’d lean into that relationship. So reassuring to know I have someone I can call to swing by in a pinch. We would pay for their time, of course.

+1. It is very, very useful to have someone nearby who can check on the house and make small repairs, or at least meet repair people.

Definitely turn the water off in the winter. A unusual cold front can come through and freeze pipes, even with the heat on. I learned the hard way. I wouldn’t trust a wifi based system with sensors. I’ve had systems like that go off line while we were away and they couldn’t be reset remotely.

Anonymous wrote:Ours us also an AirBNB so it's used, cleaned and checked often. Thanks to the government shut down we had a vacancy for 2 weeks and you won't believe the amount of dust that piles up. We also have a lot of remote monitoring devices on the home.

yours is not a second home

I also use yi cameras to monitor every room in my second home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a true second home and we go back and forth all the time so we never worry about any of this stuff.

As opposed to a fake second home?

I think she means having a second house that is rented the rest of the time. That's an investment.

We have a second house that is never rented. Is that a true second home?

I’m curious how often PP goes “back and forth all the time” that exempts them from worrying about stuff that might happen while no one is there.

NP but we go almost every weekend from mid-Spring to mid-Fall and monthly between that so we would never bother stopping the mail or shutting off the water and wouldn’t need a caretaker to check in on anything.

Our second home is 2.5 hrs away, so sometimes there every weekend. That said, we still shut off hot water heater and water when we leave. No reason to pay to heat water while not there. We also turn off water each visit. Why not? It’s literally the turn of a dial. Why chance it? For example, we got there one night, turned water on. Middle of the night went to kitchen to get water. Noticed a leak, a leak not there when we arrived. You know what - hot water tank was leaking. With water off and not being used, tank was not leaking. When water was on, it leaked. Glad we turned off the water when we left originally.

Aha, we have a tankless hot water heater which solves some of these problems.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a true second home and we go back and forth all the time so we never worry about any of this stuff.

As opposed to a fake second home?

I think she means having a second house that is rented the rest of the time. That's an investment.

We have a second house that is never rented. Is that a true second home?

I’m curious how often PP goes “back and forth all the time” that exempts them from worrying about stuff that might happen while no one is there.

NP but we go almost every weekend from mid-Spring to mid-Fall and monthly between that so we would never bother stopping the mail or shutting off the water and wouldn’t need a caretaker to check in on anything.

Our second home is 2.5 hrs away, so sometimes there every weekend. That said, we still shut off hot water heater and water when we leave. No reason to pay to heat water while not there. We also turn off water each visit. Why not? It’s literally the turn of a dial. Why chance it? For example, we got there one night, turned water on. Middle of the night went to kitchen to get water. Noticed a leak, a leak not there when we arrived. You know what - hot water tank was leaking. With water off and not being used, tank was not leaking. When water was on, it leaked. Glad we turned off the water when we left originally.

Ours us also an AirBNB so it's used, cleaned and checked often. Thanks to the government shut down we had a vacancy for 2 weeks and you won't believe the amount of dust that piles up. We also have a lot of remote monitoring devices on the home.

I’ll second (or third) a pest service contract. Houses, especially in the woods, attract all sorts of critters. I’ve evicted mice, squirrels, flying squirrels and bats. I also get snakes in the crawlspace and you wouldn’t believe how big spiders can get. And carpenter ants. I finally bit the bullet and hired professionals. In my opinion critters are the worst part of second homeownership.

And for those wondering, I do consider it a “true” second home, even though I may only make it there a few times a year. I don’t rent it out.

Anonymous wrote:We are in the process of buying one a few hours away. I have some really basic questions for those that have a second home!

1) What do you do regarding postal service at your second home? I don't want mail to pile up - I won't use that address as a mailing address but I'm sure there will be junk mail and other stuff that comes there.

2) What temperature do you leave the heat or air conditioning set to when you are not going to be there for a few weeks?

3) Do you shut off the main water line every time you leave the house for more than a few weeks?

Anything else I need to be thinking about for the weeks between visits?

1. We don’t get mail at the second home.

2. 55 heat, leave cabinets open in the winter. Ac off in the summer unless we are there. We do have a dehumidifier run that drains into a shower to prevent mold due to high humidity. Heat, Ac, and dehumidifier are all on wifi that we can monitor/control remotely.

3. We shut off the main water line and the hot water heater (electric) every time we leave. It’s two quick switches.

Electricity has been known to go out during snowstorms/ice storms in our location. As a result, pipes freeze due to electric heat being out. Shutting water off limits any damage. Draining the waterlines would completely prevent any issues but we’re not quite that diligent.

We also have wifi keypad front door locks and ring cameras.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a true second home and we go back and forth all the time so we never worry about any of this stuff.

As opposed to a fake second home?

I think she means having a second house that is rented the rest of the time. That's an investment.

We have a second house that is never rented. Is that a true second home?

I’m curious how often PP goes “back and forth all the time” that exempts them from worrying about stuff that might happen while no one is there.

We have a place in downtown DC and a place about 70 miles west of the city. Neither is empty for more than a few days at a time.

We have a house back in the mountains of NC. We don't get any mail delivery there; no mailbox. All mail gets delivered to primary home. No Amazon, either, because Amazon only delivers via USPS there. 10 minutes to the dollar store or 30 minutes to Walmart it is!

Thermostat set at 45 in winter and we don't need or have AC. A dehumidifier runs all summer in the basement with a hose drain. With winter storms and power outages, We'd never leave the water on there. Pipes freeze during a power outage, then the power comes back on and the pump goes wild through all the broken pipes. No thanks!

Thus we flip the breakers for the pump and water heater when we're not there. If we know we won't use it in any particular winter, we drain the pipes. Pain, but winter storms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a true second home and we go back and forth all the time so we never worry about any of this stuff.

As opposed to a fake second home?

I think she means having a second house that is rented the rest of the time. That's an investment.

We have a second house that is never rented. Is that a true second home?

I’m curious how often PP goes “back and forth all the time” that exempts them from worrying about stuff that might happen while no one is there.

NP but we go almost every weekend from mid-Spring to mid-Fall and monthly between that so we would never bother stopping the mail or shutting off the water and wouldn’t need a caretaker to check in on anything.

Why would you even have mail service there in the first place?

Owning a second home can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its own set of unique challenges. Here are some general suggestions and answers to your questions:

Postal Service:
Mail Hold: The U.S. Postal Service (if you are in the U.S.) offers a "Hold Mail" service where they can hold your mail for a set number of days and then deliver the accumulated mail when the hold ends.
Mail Forwarding: Consider forwarding mail from your second home to your primary residence, especially if you're only occasionally at the second home.
PO Box: Another option is to rent a PO Box near your second home and have all mail sent there. You can then check it periodically.
Install a Security Mailbox: This kind of mailbox is more resistant to theft and can keep mail safer for longer periods.
Neighbors or Property Manager: If you have trusted neighbors or a property manager nearby, they might be willing to collect your mail for you.
Temperature Settings:
Winter: If you're in a colder climate, it's essential to keep the house warm enough to prevent pipes from freezing. Typically, setting the thermostat to around 50-55°F (10-13°C) should be sufficient.
Summer: If you're in a hotter climate, setting the thermostat to around 80-85°F (27-29°C) can help prevent excessive humidity build-up and mold growth, without running up your electric bill.
Smart Thermostats: Investing in a smart thermostat can be beneficial. It allows you to monitor and adjust the temperature remotely, ensuring that the house is always at a safe temperature.
Water Line:
It's a good practice to shut off the main water line if you're going to be away for extended periods. This can prevent potential water damage from unforeseen leaks.
Remember to also turn off the water heater to save energy. If it's a gas heater, make sure to set it to "pilot."
Other Considerations:

Security: Consider installing a security system or cameras that allow remote monitoring. This can help you keep an eye on your property while you're away.
Pest Control: Ensure the property is sealed against pests, and consider periodic pest control treatments, especially if the house is often vacant.
Neighbors: Letting trusted neighbors know your schedule can be helpful, as they can notify you (or the authorities) of any suspicious activity.
Garden/Yard Maintenance: If there's a garden or yard, consider hiring a service to maintain it if you won't be visiting frequently.
Insurance: Ensure your homeowner's insurance covers any potential risks associated with having a vacant home. Some policies might require periodic check-ins or other stipulations for coverage.
Remember, each property and location can have its own set of specific considerations, so it's essential to be familiar with the particular needs and challenges of your second home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. We really don't get that much mail because we have all the utilities and such set to bill at our home address so I assume our 2nd home address isn't on the junk "lists" or whatever.

2. 60 in winter, 75 in summer. In winter, we leave the sink cabinet doors open when we leave.

3. We don't shut off the water.

We have several neighbor friends too if we ever needed someone to immediately check on something like if there's a major freeze and we want them to check the pipes. We regularly thank them with bottle of wine or whatever.

Is that because it keeps the pipes a few degrees warmer?

DP but yes.