A vacation home is a secondary residence that is mainly used by individuals or families when they’re on vacation. It’s usually located in a different city, state/province, or even a different country than the owner’s primary residence. A vacation home can be pretty expensive, but it can also be profitable by renting it out to other families when the owner isn’t using it.
If you do choose to own a vacation home, you’ll want it to be the perfect place to relax and actually enjoy a vacation, either for yourself or for those you rent it out to. Here’s what you need to look for to find the perfect vacation home.
1. Enough Space for a Family
Although many people travel and vacation on their own, it’s much more common for families or even a group of friends to vacation together. If this is true for you, you’re going to want to invest in a spacious vacation home. The best vacations are when your lodging accommodations feel most like home so you can rest well after a long day of sightseeing and recreational activities.
Typically, you’ll want a vacation home to have anywhere between two and six bedrooms to accommodate small families, larger families, multiple families, and/or friend groups. If you know that you won’t rent your vacation home to others, then you can do what works best for you and your family.
2. Indoor Amenities
Unless you’re roughing it, you’re going to want at least the basic indoor amenities in your vacation home. These include electricity, running water, and ventilation. For extra convenience, you’re going to want other standard amenities, such as a washer and dryer, a full kitchen, and internet access. Having these amenities in your vacation home will allow you (or your renters) to stay longer without feeling too displaced.
If you want your vacation to really feel like home, other amenities to have included small kitchen appliances (coffee maker, microwave, air fryer, crockpot, etc.), hair appliances and other grooming tools in the bathroom, premium bedding for the bedrooms, and household cleaning supplies. You’ll also want to have a basic first aid kit and a fire extinguisher in your vacation home as well.
3. Outdoor Amenities
Sometimes your vacation may consist of just lounging around your vacation home, but you’re probably not going to spend that entire time indoors. This means that you’re going to need some outdoor amenities for entertainment. One of the most luxurious outdoor amenities is a swimming pool. This is a great outdoor amenity for you and your family/friends to enjoy.
Other outdoor amenities to include in your vacation home include a deck or patio and outdoor seating, outdoor lighting, and a grill or outdoor kitchen. This can make those days at home much more enjoyable when you have some downtime from your busy vacation. Outdoor amenities will also make your vacation home more enjoyable for renters if you choose to rent it.
4. Prime Location
Last but not least, the one thing that truly makes a perfect vacation home is its prime location. The realtor that you hire will more than likely tell you that location is key, as it’s the most important factor in real estate. A prime location depends on the needs you have when staying in a home, such as a good school district if you have children. When it comes to vacation homes, you’ll want the home to be located near a spot that you and your family/friends frequently visit, or a vacation hotspot if you’re going to rent the home.
You can even hire a custom cottage builder to build your vacation cottage by the lake, or even a cabin in the mountains. There are many ways to get the perfect vacation home you desire, whether you want to use it for yourself, rent it to others to make a profit, or a combination of both.
Of course, vacation homes aren’t one size fits all, and the sky’s the limit when creating your own vacation home. However, these four elements are typically what is desired by most people when looking for a vacation home, so keep these in mind if you choose to rent your vacation home to others. When investing in a vacation home, you want to be able to enjoy it or at least make money from it. Just keep in mind the short-term rental laws enforced in certain areas if you decide to rent your vacation home to others.
