Banner image courtesy of Clay Banks
It is easy to be drawn to the idea of owning a second home abroad, and the experience can be incredibly rewarding. Managing that property from another country, however, is very different from looking after a home that is close by. Small issues that would normally be easy to fix can become more complicated when you are not there to deal with them directly, and minor problems can quickly turn into larger ones if they go unnoticed. The best way to avoid unnecessary stress is to put reliable systems in place that can keep the property running smoothly even when you are away.
When someone moves to another country, it doesn’t mean they have to give up on their second home. Establishing a good system, finding a reliable local contact, and creating routines to track the property’s status will ensure everything runs smoothly even when the owner is not physically present.
Build a Reliable Local Network
Looking for someone to be your ‘point of contact’ near the property can be the most important thing to do before you leave. This could be a property manager, a caretaker, a friend, or a relative who lives near the property. This person will be your main contact for anything that may arise at the property and can either sort the problem out straight away or contact someone who can. Ideally, they would have basic knowledge of maintenance issues and can contact the right people to sort them out.
Money is another practical part of managing a second home from abroad, especially when you rely on local professionals for maintenance and day-to-day upkeep. Contractors, cleaners, gardeners, and property managers may all need to be paid while you are away, so it helps to have a reliable process in place before an urgent expense comes up. If your property is in Mexico, for instance, understanding the basics of a money transfer to Mexico can make it easier to plan for payment timing, exchange rates, and the recipient information you may need to complete the transaction.
Even with a list of suppliers, it’s best to have more than one contact for each trade to cover situations when the first person you contact is unavailable. Store the contact details of several plumbers, electricians, locksmiths, appliance repair people, and general maintenance workers in an easy-to-access location.
Automate Routine Bills Where Possible
For regular bills, it is best to set up automatic payments so you pay on time. This way you can have peace of mind and avoid higher costs that might occur when you are away. Review utilities, property insurance, security systems, home contents, and cleaning services periodically.
In rare cases, a sudden increase in a bill might indicate a problem with a payment that has been transferred or an even bigger problem at the property itself (for example, a sudden increase in water usage could indicate a leak somewhere at the property that still hasn’t been noticed yet by local property management or caretaker).
Remember to keep separate records for the maintenance and running costs of your second home from your everyday spending so you can better understand the true annual cost.
Create a Preventive Maintenance Schedule
For an absentee owner, the wait until things break is longer than for a resident, and it is better to foresee maintenance needs in advance. For example, annually service air conditioners and other appliances, check the roof, treat for pests, and check the plumbing.
Report issues that need repair and set a date to have them fixed before you next return to the property. This might include servicing air-conditioning units, roof inspections, pest control, plumbing checks, and appliance maintenance.
Scheduled checks for seasonal changes are also vital. For example, properties in humid or by-the-sea locations will need checks for moisture, corrosion, etc. In contrast, properties in areas prone to violent storms will need extra checks on their roofs, drainage, and exteriors.
Use Technology Without Depending on It Completely
Many smart-home devices can be monitored remotely. For example, you can get alerts for unusual events, such as a flood detected by a water leak sensor or a sudden temperature change. Smart locks can also be very convenient to manage remotely. Visitors can be granted access using a smart lock’s secure online access code.
Smart locks are great for cleaners, maintenance personnel, and occasional visitors (friends and family). Instead of handing out physical keys and risking loss, smart locks allow temporary access via codes that can be removed later.
Technology can support a local management system, not replace it. While a security camera may capture a photo of a problem with your property, a damaged window still needs to be fixed. Someone needs to physically investigate a strange smell.
Keep Important Documents Organized
As a property owner abroad, you will need to manage a lot of paperwork for your second home. Keeping digital copies of property documents, including insurance, property titles, appliance warranties, invoices from your contractors, and your property maintenance history, in a safe and secure online space will help you stay on top of things.
Make a list and record all information relevant to the property, including details of current utility accounts, alarm systems, and contact information for services that maintain equipment in the property. This allows someone to deal with a problem while you are overseas and respond in a timely, informed manner.
It also helps when reviewing a property’s costs to understand what may be covered under warranty.
Prepare for Emergencies Before They Happen
Given the scenario where something unexpected like water damage, an electrical failure, a break-in, or even a storm happens to your property abroad, and you’re unable to get there in time to sort things out, it would be wise to outline how your property manager or someone you trust can handle things in an emergency.
It is also important to give your property manager and contacts clear guidance on how much they can spend and what they can agree to without contacting you first. How much will you spend on an emergency temporary repair to a pipe or leak, as opposed to a more permanent solution?
Having an up-to-date list of the key emergency contacts, including your insurance details and local emergency numbers for things such as police, fire brigade, etc., is a simple document to create but a really valuable one when needed.
Make Every Visit an Opportunity to Inspect
Even when you return to your second home to go on vacation, you should use every visit to your foreign home to inspect all parts of your home abroad. You may find problems you did not even know existed.
Walk around the house, check every corner, and talk with the people who take care of your home. Ask whether they have noticed any changes and whether they encounter any problems regularly. Also find out if some equipment is on the verge of breaking down.
Managing a second home abroad requires more effort and planning than managing a property at home. But with the right local contacts, financial organization, and a preventative approach to maintenance—and with the help of technology—you can rest assured that your home abroad is being well looked after, even when you are thousands of miles away. Your second home should be a pleasure, not a problem.
