Owning a second home and using the property as a vacation spot during the summer is a luxury that re-energizes you, and it helps create a peaceful time while away from your main residence. When you leave your second home though, how do you ensure that your getaway stays safe and protected against burglars? A few tips will help keep your second residence safe and give you the peace of mind to know that your property is secure and protected.
Create An Impression of Occupancy
Making your vacation home look lived in is a crucial aspect of keeping thieves away. Your vacation home should look lived in and give off the impression that someone is keeping an eye on things. First, be sure to keep up with the yard and have a maintenance crew employed that mows the lawn and keeps the landscape looking pristine. Cancel any mail that may be coming to this residence or forward it to your main home. The use of timers on lights will give the impression that someone is occupying the residence. Leave the light on above the stove as the kitchen is often one of the most used rooms in any house. Consider using a timer on a television set and have it turn on during the afternoon or evening. You can also use a radio for this and have it tuned to a talk radio station. Timers are inexpensive and can easily be set up in just a few minutes. Keep your drapes or curtains slightly open on the first floor and completely open on the second floor. This instills a lived in look that incorporates privacy.
Install Home Security Provisions
Contact a South Carolina security company and set up a home alarm system that alerts authorities if an intruder enters your residence. Home protection have base systems that can be monitored by a central agency that offers 24-hour protection. Incorporating video surveillance with this type of unit would allow you to watch your residence from anywhere in the world that has an Internet connection. A Carolina security company has the ability to install cameras in separate rooms or outside. Often, homeowners decide to place a camera on the front porch and inside of rooms that have entries. Having a camera installed outside of a house will deter most thieves and send them looking for easier prey.
Renting and Seeking Help From Neighbors.
For those individuals who expect to be away from their vacation homes for a considerable amount of time, renting may be an option that’s chosen to bring in a few extra dollars and keep the home lived in. If you decide to do this, be sure to take time to incorporate a few added security measures. Do the individuals that are renting from you seem trustworthy? Have you set down ground rules with clear communication to instill what’s expected from your renters? If you have cameras set up inside of your home, be sure to have them listed in your rental agreement and investigate privacy laws for your individual state. Also, it’s a good idea to find a neighbor or two that you can trust to keep an eye on things. A neighborhood watch helps keep homes safe and burglars away.
Following these tips will help optimize vacation home protection so that it is safe and ready for your return on your next period of leisure.
Hawaii real estate is a great investment opportunity for people who want a second home, want to make some extra money by reselling a home for profit or who want to rent the home out on a daily or weekly basis for vacationers who want an alternate to hotel living. There are many opportunities to invest in Hawaii real estate and the different islands have various homes that are available for sale. Property values for Hawaii real estate are on the rise, so buying early is recommended for the lowest possible purchase price and the highest resale value. Hawaii is a popular destination for vacationers and is also a popular place for people to get a second home or to retire to. If you are looking for Hawaii real estate, check all the islands that are popular to determine which one will have the best options for you.
Kauai real estate is a valuable investment for people who are looking for a second home or retirement home. The island has many things to do and see but is not as touristy as Oahu and Maui. You will still get the old world charm with Kauai real estate that you may not have as much of on the other islands. Additionally, it has a thriving tourist population with people generally wanting to choose Kauai for a more relaxing vacation. There is sand and surf as well as historical landmarks but it is not quite as commercial as the other islands, making it an ideal place for selling Kauai real estate or having a place for a vacation rental. Hawaii real estate on the island of Kauai is a great investment opportunity. Kauai is one of the islands where Hawaii real estate is growing and many people are not selling and instead choosing to live on the island. As this trend continues, real estate prices will skyrocket because of supply and demand. You will be able to sell a home at a very large profit if you wish to do so.
Maui real estate is a thriving industry with many homes available for rent or purchase. Maui is one of the more popular vacation destination islands, which makes Maui real estate a smart investment. Maui real estate is a better vacation rental investment than a sale opportunity if you are looking for a long term return. Tourist activity on Maui is at an all time high and does not seem to be declining. You can rent your home out on a daily or weekly basis and get plenty of income to pay a house payment. Over time, the rental payments will pay off the house entirely and you have a valuable asset. Maui real estate prices are rising so purchasing early will ensure you have an appreciating asset for years to come. If you decide you no longer want to bother with maintenance and upkeep of rental properties, you can sell the house and will likely get significantly more than you paid for it. In addition, if used as a vacation rental, new owners can look at the popularity of the home and take that into consideration when purchasing.
Oahu real estate is another good investment when thinking about Hawaii real estate. Like Maui, Oahu is a popular vacation destination with many tourists visiting each year. There is a thriving economy on the island and an abundance of opportunity to make money on vacation homes. Similarly to Maui, the real investment money opportunities are in vacation rentals. Families and groups who go to Oahu often do not want to stay in a hotel and would rather have the comfort of a home. The luxury it affords is also desirable to vacationers. You can purchase Oahu real estate and get a management company to deal with the daily activities of rental and upkeep. The income generated from vacation rentals will be sufficient to pay a house note and the management fees. You can then decide if you want to keep the house long term for years of income opportunity or you can sell the place to another investor. With rising costs of Oahu real estate, you will be able to get more for the place than your original investment and have a great opportunity to make extra money.
Big island real estate is popular for investors and home buyers. Kauai real estate, Maui real estate and Oahu real estate are the three largest investment opportunities available in todays market. Hawaii real estate is increasing in value and purchasing early to turn a profit is advisable. Whether you want your own second home, want to flip the house or want to have a vacation rental, Hawaii real estate is a great opportunity.
My Father passed away in January of 2008 after a long struggle with respiratory issues which stemmed from years of smoking. He smoked when my sister and I were kids even when we begged him not to as we rode in the backseat of the car going on family vacations. He smoked when my Grandmother was in the hospital dying of breast cancer, from smoking. He smoked when he got up in the morning, when he cut the grass, after he ate dinner at night. It was hard to picture him at a time when he didn’t have a cigarette in his hand, up to his mouth or just lighting up another one – even though he had yet to finish the last.
My Dad was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1982. We were on a family vacation to Ireland and England when he first got sick. Five years later, and after a quarter of his right lung had been removed, my Dad was declared cancer free. But, the years of smoking had taken it’s toll and would linger with him and cause many medical problems for the rest of his life.
The months after my Father passed were some of the most difficult of my life. Not only had my Father died, I had left a job I’d had for a dozen years, I had recently gotten divorced, and two of my beloved golden retrievers had died. Like most things in my life, when things get tough, I jump in and fight.
I needed a project — something to keep me busy. I think better when I’m busy. Buying and renovating my home with my fianc was probably what kept me sane during those difficult months after my Father’s death. After six months of work, we finally were able to move in and planned to invite both families to celebrate Christmas day in our new home.
I knew the first Christmas without my Dad would be tough. But, I didn’t really know exactly how I would feel or what would happen. All I knew was I was that fifteen people were coming for dinner and I was cooking.
Thoughts ran through my head. Christmas Day. A home my Father never lived to see. The hours of labor I had put into it with him looking down on me were over. Now it was time to celebrate the holiday, with my family. In the back of my head I kept expecting to see him, for him to just show up, to tell me Merry Christmas, and to say what a great job we did with the house. But, at the same time, I knew different.
As we opened the presents, my Mother handed me a box. Just something for the tree, she said. I unwrapped and opened the box and felt the tears start burning down my face.
My fianc had been in the other room. Walking in, he was startled to see me so upset standing in front of the tree with my Mother. What’s wrong? All I could do was to hand him the box.
Inside was an ornament with the words: Dad, January 13, 1928 – January 3, 2008.
My Mom had found a poem and had carefully typed out part of it on a small card and enclosed it with the holiday ornament. The card read: Have a Merry Christmas and Wipe away that tear…Remember, I am spending Christmas with
Jesus Christ this year.
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Aqualina lies on a shallow hillside on the northern coast of Koh Samui surrounded by coconut palms with sea views towards neighboring Koh Phan Ngan Island. The villa is built with a highly modern contemporary design that offers angular architectural features which blend seamlessly into the hillside environment with unique lawn-covered rooftops which also serve to recycle and store water giving the villa an environmentally-friendly edge.
The villa is built in an L-shaped configuration and wraps around a spacious, slate-tiled infinity swimming pool with tropical views over the surrounding coconut groves and hill-sides towards the sea and Koh Phan Ngan.
From the white stone pool deck there is access to the property’s main living and dining area to the left and direct access to two of the villa’s three bedrooms on the other side. The living area is an open plan living, dining and kitchen concept back dropped by glass doors which open to the indoor pond and private, tropical garden. This area features a top of the range satellite TV entertainment system which sits in front of ample soft seating for up to 6 guests. To the rear of the living area is a fully-equipped, modern kitchen featuring a grey-slate island. The center of the room offers a modern dining table catering for up to six guests. The villa interior’s brilliant white floors and walls contrast with the villa’s earthen tones and sandstone features allowing a spacious, cooling yet completely unique living environment.
A designer staircase leads from the living area to the upstairs master bedroom, located on a split-level above the living area, and private office area with inspiring views towards the front of the property. All three of Aqualina’s bedrooms are fitted luxuriously throughout each offering private en suite facilities which include modern rain shower fittings, double sinks and terrazzo bathtubs with the bedrooms each offering private plasma TVs and DVD players.
Aqualina is located between Maenam and Bophut on Koh Samui’s busy northeasternern coastline only a few minutes’ drive to the main island ring road, popular Fisherman’s Village and Maenam Beach.
A wonderful choice of 3-bedroom villa for families or groups of friends seeking to rent an ultra-modern sea view property in a convenient location on beautiful, tropical Koh Samui Island.