A summer home can be a dream come true for anyone who wants to get the most out of their summers each year. If you are going to invest in a summer home, you want to make sure that it has all the necessary elements to make your dream come true. While a lot of the things you want in a summer home are similar to your regular home, there are a few extra things that can make your summer home investment even more worthwhile.
Pick a Great Location
Perhaps the most important thing in a summer home isn’t any element of the house but where that house is located. You want to place your summer home in the kind of area where you will enjoy the weather, the views, and the environment all summer long. Some people want their summer homes right on the beach so they can hop outside to go surfing or relax in the sand. Others would rather be in the mountains or near a lake to take advantage of great hiking and excursion opportunities and cooler weather. And still others prefer a cityscape for cultural experiences and lots of human interaction in the winter months. You need to choose a location that works for you that works for you and your summer goals.
Put in Central Cooling
Unless you move to the north pole, you are probably going to get a little hot during the summer months. That means that having central cooling is an absolute necessity to make your summer home as luxurious as possible. Some people make do with a window unit, but a summer home should never be about making do. Instead, you should have the cool air you need when you need it, and central cooling is just the tool you need to make that happen. Since you are starting from scratch with your new home, you have the perfect opportunity to install an efficient central cooling system to make your summers something special.
Insulate Your Home
It may not be the most exciting thing to talk about, but insulation is a must for any summer home. If you have already put in the investment to have central cooling installed, you don’t want to waste that money by allowing cool air to escape through uninsulated areas in your home. Instead, you want to ensure that you have sufficient insulation from the very beginning. Don’t forget about commonly uninsulated areas like your attic. These spots are especially great at releasing your hard-earned cool air.
Treat Your Windows
In the interest of keeping your home as cool as possible, you want to make sure that your windows help to protect you from the heat of the sun. Tinting can cut your AC bills by blocking UV rays from entering through your windows. This will help your summer home to stay cooler and ensure that you are protected from the damage UV rays can cause your skin. Having big windows is a huge benefit in a summer home with a view, but you want to make sure that the windows you have do the work to keep your home cool and comfortable all summer long.
A Top-Notch Kitchen
The summer tends to be a slower paced time when you can really luxuriate in your home and do things you wouldn’t normally do. This makes the kitchen a hub for your family, a place for experimentation and enjoyment with the people you love. Don’t skimp on your summer home kitchen and it can be a space that keeps your family happy and fed all season long. A great oven and fridge will make your kitchen adventures a little bit easier while lots of counter space will ensure that everyone can get in on the action.
Think about Rentability
Since you will only be living in your summer home a few months out of the year, it’s important to think about whether you will be able to rent your summer home during the rest of the year. Not everyone decides to rent out their summer home, but if that idea is appealing to you it is worth looking into how vacation rentals are doing in the area. You want to estimate how much rental income you could gain through your rental home and when making that calculation you want to err on the side of underestimating. The last thing you want is to be counting on rental income and get much less than you expected.
An Upgraded Master Suite
If you really want to live in luxury while you are in your summer home, you should think about upgrading the master suite. You will spend a lot of time in your bedroom and bathroom and it should be a space that allows you to rest and relax in the summer months. For your bathroom look at your options in terms of showers and bathtubs that you find relaxing and luxurious. Different people have different preferences, and your master suite should be designed to perfectly meet your own wants and needs.
Accommodating Guests
Some of the best parts of summer are when you are able to invite friends and family over to spend time with you. That means you should design your summer home to have plenty of room for any guests you may want to invite. If you have the budget, you can even create a guest suite that gives your guests a little more freedom and privacy. Even just having a separate guest bathroom can help to make visitor’s stays more comfortable and give your home a more welcoming feel.
Choosing the features for your guest home is a big assignment that will put you in a good position to make a beautiful space for yourself and your family. Make sure that you consider all these elements to help you make the best possible decision. Start planning now so you can live your summers in luxury from this point forward.