5 Challenges to Address When Building Your First Vacation Home

For many people, a vacation home represents the ultimate dream investment. Not only does a second home give you a place to spend quality time with your loved ones, but it also allows you to do so close to nature, away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. Choose to build in a location you love, where you can enjoy immediate access to your favorite beaches, hiking trails, or scenic picnic spots.

Of course, while everyone wants an idyllic retreat that they can escape to on the weekends or during long holidays, building a vacation home is no walk in the park. From choosing the right site and designing the perfect house to covering maintenance costs, the entire process takes a lot of time, effort, and careful planning to complete successfully. Here are 5 challenges you’ll especially want to prepare for when setting up your second home:

Choosing the Optimal Location

Location is everything when it comes to building a vacation home. Would you like to be near a beach, or do you prefer the cool and breezy climate of more mountainous areas? Do you want a remote getaway, or would you rather have essential services and modern conveniences close at hand? Above all else, you want a place that’s relaxing, comfortable, and well-suited to your specific needs, so consider your priorities carefully before you start looking up properties.

If you’re looking for an all-around ideal location that offers tranquility and proximity to nature without sacrificing convenience, Lipa City in Batangas Province is well worth considering. The city has experienced strong economic growth and development over the years and has rapidly become a real estate hotspot both for vacation homes and more permanent residences. You surely won’t have trouble finding Lipa City house and lot for sale at one of the many exciting developments in the area.. 

Managing Additional Costs

A second home is an additional hefty financial responsibility, and that doesn’t stop at purchasing the property or paying construction costs. Depending on where you choose to build your vacation house, you may have to pay an annual or even monthly homeowner’s fee. You’ll also have to pay property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and monthly utility bills. You’ll be charged for utilities regardless of how often you actually visit and use your vacation house, so keep that in mind when planning your finances going forward.

In addition to the above expenses, you’ll also inevitably have to pay for regular upkeep or the installation of architectural features specific to your needs. If your beach house is in an area frequented by tropical storms, for instance, you may have to opt for architectural solutions like a 4-sloped roof, elevated flooring, a flood control system, storm shutters, and laminated tempered glass windows, all of which can help protect your home from the effects of extreme weather conditions. You may also find yourself having to repair, repaint, or replace things around your second home, just as you would at your main residence.

Determining What Home Features to Include 

Opting to build rather than buy a vacation home means you’ll be responsible for designing it according to your family’s needs. Major considerations you’ll have to think about include the following:

• Whether you want an open or traditional closed floor plan
• The number of bedrooms and bathrooms to incorporate into your design
• Additional rooms like a storage room or a home office
• Outdoor features like patios, outdoor bars, pools, hot tubs, and others
• Furnishings and decorations

The above considerations are especially important if you intend to rent out your vacation home to travelers when you’re not using it. While vacation rentals are potentially profitable sources of passive income, you’ll have to pay extra attention to the amenities and home features that guests who frequent your chosen area are seeking and plan accordingly.

Highlighting the View

Prominent, eye-catching views are a major reason that property is so expensive in popular vacation spots. If your chosen lot has a prominent view, you’ll want to design your house in a way that shows it off as much as possible. Major rooms in the house like the living area and the master bedroom, for example, should be oriented towards the landscape outside so that occupants can appreciate it to the fullest. And while having a television is all but a necessity for home entertainment, you’ll definitely want to situate your TV in a place that doesn’t block out the view.

Finding a Caretaker

Many vacation homes safely sit unoccupied for most of the year, leaving them vulnerable to break-ins, pests, and other unforeseen incidents. That’s why you’ll definitely want to find a trustworthy contact person to look in on your house from time to time. If you intend to rent out your house, then you may benefit from having someone around to clean it, maintain the outdoor area, and check for any issues in or around your property before guests come. Once you have your building plans locked down, it’s best to list out the sorts of duties you need your caretaker to attend to and prepare to compensate them accordingly.

 

Building a second home is an unquestionably taxing endeavor, but knowing what to expect can ease the process. Anticipating the challenges ahead will help you better prepare for them and allow you to enjoy the many benefits of a vacation home sooner.