Your regular home is where the everyday living happens. You come home from work, take your shoes off, watch some TV, have dinner, do homework with your kids (if you have them), and then go to bed. Only to have to do the same thing the next day.
Your vacation home, if you’re lucky enough to have one, is where the real memories are made. If you have home videos or photographs of an enjoyable moment, chances are it happened at your vacation home.
You may be wondering, how do I top this? How do I make these experiences even better? You may even be wondering how you can improve your vacation home to make it better for renters, or even increase its resale value.
These are some ideas you can use if you’re stuck. Make your next vacation amazing, for yourself, or create an enjoyable experience for a renter or new buyer.
1. Update architectural styles
Just as you become tired of looking at the same decor in your regular home, the same old vacation home year after year loses its flavor. Spruce it up with renovations to the facade. If you bought it as a Mid 20th Century Modern, try turning it into a farmhouse to add some interest. You’ll definitely give any friends and family who visit a talking point. If you’re looking for a simpler project, house siding is a great way to give your house some extra color and pizzazz. Choose from durable siding materials like fiber cement or layer on new stucco to make the facade stand out from the rest.
You will certainly enjoy having the new surroundings. Even better, you’ll increase the resale value of your vacation home, should you ever decide to part with it.
2. Get a sauna
The dinner table or a patio under the nighttime summer sky isn’t the only place you can bring your family and friends together. Where again, you might be asking? How about a sauna?
This tradition is hundreds of years old and has been drawing Finnish families together for all that time. Let it do the same for yours. There is a range of outdoor saunas available for purchase. You can be guaranteed there will be one to match your personal style and budget.
Short and long-term renters will love your addition of a sauna and will happily pay extra for the privilege of using it.
3. Install a home theater system
At home, you barely have time to keep up with all the latest cinematic releases and find yourself more often than not, falling asleep in front of your TV.
Vacations should be different and one way to make sure they are is to put out some cash on a brand-new home theater system. Catch up on all those movies you missed. Sit cheek to cheek with that special someone and watch a romantic comedy. Gather your children around and watch a beloved family classic. All on a large screen TV, with surround sound to give you that cinematic feel.
4. Upgrade your kitchen and bathroom
Just as fixing up the outside of your vacation home can give it a much-needed boost, getting your kitchen and bathroom redone can breathe new life into your vacation home.
The improvements don’t need to be pricey. You would be surprised what a new coat of paint and shiny new accessories can do for a kitchen or bathroom. If you have the cash, a complete renovation full of modern touches will wow guests, potential renters, or maybe even one day, a buyer.
5. Install a security system
We’ve all seen those stories on the news. While you are away, working hard, others are living in your vacation home, uninvited and causing damage. Prevent this with a security system that notifies both you and local authorities when your vacation home has been breached.
When you’re in residence, you will feel safer knowing that you and your family are protected, and the police are just a notification away. Your vacation home renters will appreciate the upgrades as well. Everyone wants to know that they are safe.
6. Go green
In addition to all the new things you’ll be doing to make your vacation home better, consider making it more energy-efficient.
Why make it more energy efficient? There are several reasons. For one thing, it’s good for the planet. For another, if your vacation home consumes less energy, it will cost you less to keep it cool in the summer and keep it warm in the winter.
If that doesn’t move you, think about this: energy-efficient upgrades to your vacation home can get you rebates and tax breaks from the government and can also increase the value of your home significantly.
You already have several fabulous memories of your vacation home. Adopt one, some, or all of these ideas to make it truly amazing.