Posted on August 6th, 2007 by Florence Beaton
For a second home owner whose primary residence is in the city, suburbs or otherwise “in town”, septic systems can be a huge mystery. But for many who own vacation homes in more rural areas, septic systems are a fact of life. They can be intimidating for those who have never had to worry about where their waste is going, but when properly designed and maintained, they rarely cause problems for their owners.
One of the key things to consider if you’re purchasing a property or building a new vacation home is to make sure the septic design is appropriate for your needs. Even if you’re vacation home is only a two-bedroom, you may want to consider going for a larger design if you sometimes have a lot more than four people staying for extended periods of time. The last thing you want at your big Labor Day barbeque is a backed up septic system because you had 20 people showering and using the bathroom every day when your system was only designed for 6.
About.com’s Home Buying channel has a great article with more information on septic systems.
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Posted on June 18th, 2007 by Tim Menk
If so, its good to be aware of some of the pitfalls of the process, so you can save yourself time, money and aggravation. Even if your project is moderate in size, it’s recommended that you negotiate a contract that protects your interests in the event any problems crop up that are related to your remodelers failure to perform as promised. The definition of performance should include assurance that any necessary permits are secured to cover the full scope of your project. Other insurance-related issues should be incorporated into the contract to protect you against liability and possible losses associated with the actions of your contractor, sucontractors and cre.
Realty Times has a good overview of other important considerations before you begin a remodeling contract.
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Posted on May 31st, 2007 by Tim Menk
If you own a second home, chances are you will be spending some time there this summer. As a second homeowner, I find that having good neighbors near my seaside cottage in Nova Scotia eases my mind about in what shape I can expect to find our place when we open the door, especially since our cottage is located 800 miles from our primary residence. Needless to say, it is not a weekend retreat.
Not all vacation homeowners are lucky enough to be able to rely on the care taking assistance offered by neighbors. When they lock the door to return home after their vacation break, most second homeowners have reason to be concerned about leaving their prized retreat vacant and unprotected. These fears have prompted a number of companies to develop remote-sensing devices that can provide greater peace of mind for second homeowners.
The New York Times has an excellent article that details some of the new devices and technologies to assure the safety of your second home when you are not in residence.
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Posted on May 30th, 2007 by Tim Menk
Now that spring is finally here, it’s time to think about how to make your second home yard and landscaping more beautiful and easier to maintain. With the near-record drought in the Southeast and soaring temperatures in the desert Southwest, owners of vacation homes in those areas are looking for ways to decrease both yard-related maintenance and water usage. A recent article in the New York Times provides some helpful hints on gardening in a dry landscape, otherwise known as ‘Xeriscaping’.
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Posted on May 8th, 2007 by Ellen Newbury
The USDA Forest Service has a great article titled “Basic Instructions for Restoration and Native Landscaping Projects”. The State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources came up with the guidelines. Here are a few from the list:
#2. Gain an understanding of the native plant communities in your area.
#4. Get to know your site. This includes learning about existing plants, sun exposure and drainage and soil moisture.
#7. Create a wish list of species for your site.
Visit the USDA Forest Service site for the complete list.
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