Investing in a house on the beach is a tremendous financial asset that can generate fabulous profits. However, this property can also cause significant maintenance costs that you should consider. Exposure to different elements such as sun, humidity, and salinity produces that pipes, windows, or paint get quickly damaged. Therefore, a vacation rental property on the coast also means more frequent maintenance and a higher cost. But don’t worry! Here, we will give you some maintenance tips that will help you to prevent damage and reduce costs.
Preventive and Corrective Maintenance
 As the name implies, preventive maintenance is carried out before damage occurs and allows more extended life and optimal operation of structures, materials, appliances, and finishes. Besides, you can do preventive maintenance at a structural level. For example, choose materials suitable for the humid weather, either for indoor or outdoor use. Also, check for special treatment for finishes.
Corrective maintenance is when the damage has already occurred. Therefore, you must replace or renovate the affected piece. Sometimes, these renovations mean a more significant expense.
The maintenance of your beach home is essential, especially for the surplus value. Therefore, we recommend doing preventive maintenance at least once a year. However, some appliances or finishes may require it more frequently. This will save you money, and you won’t have to make a significant expense when any damage occurs.
The annual maintenance cost for a property on the beach can cost between $500 USD to $2,000 USD.Â
Here are some maintenance tips you may also want to consider:
General Maintenance TipsÂ
- Â Â Â Paint
We recommend the use of anti-salt paint and against humidity for exteriors. As it is not conventional paint, it is more expensive; however, it lasts longer. Although it’s a significant investment, you won’t regret it.
- Â Â Â Cleaning
Clean your water tanks and cisterns. Water tanks usually accumulate water with bacteria that put your health at risk. We suggest cleaning them every six months, and most importantly, before summer and when the high heat season begins.
Clean air conditioning. These appliances generally accumulate fungus, dust, and bacteria that enter your room, causing allergies and diseases. We recommend cleaning and disinfecting your air conditioning every six months. Moreover, you will save money on electricity, and you will increase your air conditioning life through frequent maintenance.
Clean pipes, filters, and showers with muriatic acid or with water pressure. This way, you will prevent the accumulation of salt that causes a bad water flow.
- Â Â Â Interior and exterior structures and finishes
Water infiltrations in walls or ceilings are common. We recommend making an annual check out to change ducts or repair walls.
Wood finishes on doors, windows, railings, or floors usually require a moisture coating. Nonetheless, we recommend varnishing them or adding additives.Â
Windows and door accessories generally made of aluminum and other metals are usually exposed to sun, rain, and temperature changes, which causes a rapid corrosion effect. It is vital to apply antioxidant products or even oil to protect them every six months.
Maintenance Tips for a Vacation Rental Property
 Whether you have a vacation rental property or you only visit it in certain seasons, we recommend leaving your beds with no sheets, only with a mattress protector. Also, leave your curtains closed. It is ideal if someone can come to your home every 15 days to open the windows and turn on the air conditioning.
Although you can take care of your home’s maintenance, we recommend hiring a professional. This person will guarantee their job. Also, you can hire a property management company that will take care of your property and essential maintenance.
If you’re thinking about purchasing a vacation rental property in the Riviera Maya or Cancun, now you know some basic maintenance tips to keep everything in order. If you would like to find your dream home in Mexico, we can show you diverse real estate developments that might interest you.