The Season is The Reason at the Jersey Shore
Ahh, the season for the reason… the reason you bought a home at the Jersey Shore!
To reconnect with the sea, with family and friends or just to have “me time”
April and May bring about a lot of hustle and bustle here at the Jersey shore. Jersey Shore homes being opened for the season, contractors making repairs and upgrades, landscapes being worked on. It truly is amazing to see the shoreline come alive!
Consider this when opening your Jersey Shore vacation home for the season.
- First, make sure that your property insurance and flood insurance are up to date and cover things such as falls, flood, wind damage, mold, etc.
- Check with your insurance broker on other items that may come up. Many homeowner policies do not cover wind damage.
- If you winterized your plumbing, many homeowners use a plumber to turn the water back on. But if you are doing it yourself, make sure that you check for leaks or any broken or missing pipes before you turn it on. You may have to call utility companies a couple of weeks in advance to get things like electric, gas, and cable turned on before your arrival.
- Open those windows! Get rid of those ‘stuffy’ smells by opening your windows. Fresh air is good for any environment.
- Take time to look over your home room by room checking for roof leaks, mold or other infiltration of things like mice, termites, etc.
- Be sure to update any battery operated items like smoke detectors
Replace any expired battery operated smoke detectors with a ’10 yr Sealed Battery-powered single station smoke alarm’. Replace expired hard-wired smoke detectors with ‘like-kind’- In NJ as of January 1, 2019, smoke detectors must now be a “10 yr Sealed Battery-powered single station smoke alarm”.
- Have your A/C units checked to see if operational. Like other mechanicals, there is no guarantee they will work when you turn them on.
Other things to consider:
- Check your boat registration to ensure it is current as it generally renews annually.
- If you are on the water, check your waterfront for winter damage, dock safety, etc.
- Rental Homes: Check with your town for rental certificate of occupancy requirements. Some towns require them annually.
- If any food that was left behind from the prior season, check it to ensure it is still good.
- Check any bug sprays or sunscreens for expiration dates. Original potency may wane over time and not be as effective.
Beach badges! Some towns offer reduced rates if you purchase before a certain date, usually Memorial Day.
Spring is the season for selling at the Jersey Shore. Buyers love to see well-maintained homes. A little elbow grease removing the dust and cobwebs inside and the leaves from the yard will go a long way. A fresh clean feeling is sometimes all it takes to say SOLD!
Lisa G Lopez
Lisa G Lopez, Broker/Owner of Home Alliance Realty in Manahawkin NJ, is a 25 year veteran of the real estate industry. Born and raised in the LBI Region, Lisa has witnessed the tremendous change and growth that’s transformed the area into one of the Jersey Shore’s most sought-after destinations. Lisa understands the numerous intangible benefits of living on the Jersey Shore with its unmatched natural beauty and quality of life. Lisa has an MBA with a concentration in marketing from Stockton University and also holds a Broker's and real estate instructor's license. A self-proclaimed “Technophile”, Lisa embraces the newest and brightest in technologies and keeps pace with the latest real estate trends. Lisa’s passion for real estate is evident by the numerous awards and certifications she’s received over the past 25 years. In 2018, she received the prestigious Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) designation, the premier brokerage management credential in the industry. Since 2002 Lisa has achieved The Circle of Excellence Sales Award and in 2016-2018 was awarded The Circle of Excellence Sales Award Platinum level for sales in excess of $20 Million. Lisa’s exceptional knowledge of real estate coupled with her intimate knowledge of the market is what makes her the unequivocal go-to resource for all your real estate needs.