Do you know the difference between a caretaker, property manager, house sitter, or concierge service? Do you know if you need any of them?
A caretaker is generally one person that maintains a property, including everything from gardening to repairs to washing automobiles. The caretaker does not have to live on site, although if you have a large estate this may be the best option. Generally this person is either employed by a property management company to do maintenance work (not manage the property) or hired directly by a property owner as a household employee.
Alternatives to having a caretaker are the following:
· House sitters
· Property management companies
· Home watch and/or concierge companies
· Do it yourself
House sitters
A house sitter is a person that you hire to come stay at your house in your absence. Yes, there are actually people that do this! The house sitter basically just stays at your house as long as you would like. Exactly what this person needs to do when he or she is there will have to be agreed upon between you and that person. Put this in writing so both you and the house sitters are clear on this. Some house sitters will charge a fee to stay at your home and watch over it. Most will not charge in exchange for being able to stay at your home rent-free. There are people who will house sit at your home in exchange for you house sitting their home too.
Property managers
A property manager is in the business of renting out and managing properties. If you are interested in having renters, in the hopes of earning a little money from your vacation home, this is a good option for you. The property manager will find you renters and collect rent from them. Most all states in the U.S. require property managers to be licensed, so be sure to check this out if you take on a property manager. The property manager will also maintain the property. This will generally include managing maintenance, like arranging for snow removal, lawn mowing, or appliances repair. The property manager will be looking at your vacation home as a business, as this person will be paid a portion of the rental income. Since this person is managing your property, there is a good chance you may not have a say as to which service people are called in to work on your property. If you are looking for some extra income, basic maintenance of your property, and are open to the idea of renters, a property manager would be an excellent choice for you.
Home Watch and Concierge Companies
If you want specialized attention, custom care for your home, and are not interested in having renters, but are not to the point that you feel you need a full-time caretaker or a house sitter, you might be best off settling somewhere in between the two extremes with a home watch and concierge company. These companies are similar to a house sitter, but they do not stay in your home overnight or for extended periods. They make short visits to your home. These are professional companies that normally are (and should be) insured and/or bonded. They should provide you with something in writing as to what they will do. Since these companies are usually owner-operated businesses, you can rest assured the job will be done well. You just need to remember that they are in the business of observing and reporting back to you, not managing the property. They will normally handle tasks of a caretaker, like snow removal and light maintenance, on their own. When it comes to calling in outside vendors, they will call a vendor of your choice. Since they work with multiple homes, they should have a list of vendors on hand if you don't have a specific vendor that you prefer.
DIY
If you are a do-it-yourself sort of person, you may want to handle it all on your own. This is always an option too, and it may be worth a try. If you are able to make frequent visits to your vacation home, this could work out fine. If you enjoy handling maintenance issues and working on your lawn when you visit your retreat, taking care of things on your own can be a good choice. However, if you choose not to hire help because you want to save money, this will most likely backfire. You would be better off hiring a property manager and renting out your home. A house needs regular maintenance. If basic maintenance is let go too long, damage may be very costly. Small problems can become big ones when nobody is around to catch them early. Pests, for example, can do major damage in as little as one or two days. Furthermore, there are insurance and security issues if the home is vacant too often.
Always check out the company or individual you want to hire. Any company or individual offering these types of services should have references available.
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