Owning a cabin or lake home in the Northwoods can be peaceful, even idyllic. Sitting out on the back deck sipping your morning coffee while the sun just peaks over the trees. Wildlife frolics in the forest around you. Greeting the morning as you relax before a fun-filled day fishing, hunting, hiking or playing on the calm waters of a crystal, clear lake. What could possibly be better?
While it’s true that Wisconsin and Minnesota have some of the most beautiful vacation properties in the United States, there is a reality which all cabin, home and building owners will become acquainted with at some point in time. Cabins and vacation homes require upkeep and as the years roll by, repairs will need to be made. Shingles will come unsealed, plumbing will back up, appliances will give out and décor will need updating. While it may be tempting to undertake such projects yourself in order to save the expense of having a professional come out, there are various reasons some such repairs and upgrades should be left in the capable hands of your trusted electrician, plumber or roofer.
When to Call the Professionals:
- Electricity. Unless you are a licensed electrician, repairs involving electricity of any type can be extremely dangerous. Cross the wrong wires and you can end up in the emergency room, or worse. If you have a light fixture, switch, breaker, outlet or wall plug that needs replacing, do yourself a favor and call an electrician. The expense is worth it.
- Plumbing. While plumbing may not be as mortally dangerous as electricity, this is any area where property owners should tread carefully. It may be tempting to go buy a container of extra strength Drano, a wrench and a good plunger, but a small leak can balloon into a major flood without the proper tools and techniques. Furthermore, if you are unable to clear a clogged drain yourself, you may be left with a sink or tub full of potentially harmful chemicals on top of the clog, making it hazardous for yourself or the plumber you eventually have to call. Plumbing clogs may also be a sign of more serious problems such as tree roots growing into and blocking the main sewage outlet pipes to your property.
- Roofing Issues. Holes in the roof and missing shingles can cause particularly insidious damage to buildings because there is a tendency to not worry about such problems immediately. Regular inspections by licensed roofing professionals can help identify problems before there become serious. Broken seals on shingles may be tempting to take care of yourself; however, properly affixing a shingle to a roof can be a surprisingly tricky task. Done improperly, your property may be susceptible to water damage as rain water slowly leaks down into your roof over time. Roofing issues can also be especially problematic for those living in the heavily wooded areas of Wisconsin and Minnesota where the winters are harsh and heavy snows can be hard on shingles. Even if you are confident in your ability to make roofing repairs yourself, a fall from a ladder or a roof can cause serious injury or worse. Call in the professionals and save yourself the stress.
- Structural Issues. Structural problems are rarely something you want to mess with yourself. Ceilings caving in, shifting foundations and other structural issues are serious business. Unless you are a professional contractor yourself, call in an expert.
- Carpet Installation. Carpet installations are a key way property owners go wrong. They look at the project and think, “How hard can it be to install carpet?” In actuality, it’s surprisingly difficult when you don’t know what you’re doing. Carpet layers have often spent significant periods of time perfecting their craft. Seams are tricky to line up properly. The grain (the direction the fibers of the carpet lay) must be considered. Most importantly, carpet must be stretched to meet the sides of the room in order to avoid a gap between the carpet and the wall. Without experience and the proper tools, a roomful of fresh carpet can look shoddy and mismatched; certainly not the effect a homeowner is going for with new carpet.
- Tile Work. Tile work can also be tricky business. Obtaining the proper adhesion, mixing the grout to the proper consistency and water sealing your final work require patience and experience. Wall spaces are especially difficult to tile. If you do undertake a tiling project yourself, be sure to set aside a significant chunk of time to complete the project. What might take an experienced professional a day or two to complete might take the average homeowner a week or two. Not to mention, non-experienced folks are more likely to make mistakes mixing grout and adhesive, necessitating replacement products, which will add to the cost of the product. Save yourself a headache and call in the professionals from the start.
- Tree Trimming/Pruning. Smaller, lower hanging limbs can be taken care of by homeowners. Larger, higher limbs or whole tree removal can be dangerous. Horror stories of homeowners falling off ladders with chain saws, knocking trees over into buildings or getting hit on the head by heavy falling limbs are common. Additionally, if you are not a tree expert, it is possible to do serious damage to a tree’s health if you prune too many branches or cut a branch in the wrong spot, making the tree susceptible to disease and bug infestation.
- Bug Removal. Bug killing chemicals are well, poisonous. Not to mention if you purchase bug killing chemicals at your local hardware supply store, you may not be getting the proper chemicals at the proper concentrations to eliminate whatever type of a bug problem you may be facing. Professionals will know what to do and their work will likely come with a guarantee, ensuring future assistance for pesky problems that don’t go away the first time.
Middle of the Road Repairs:
Other repairs and upgrades can be done by property owners with the proper amount of preparation and research:
- Exterior Painting. Exterior painting can be time-consuming, but if you have the patience and time to complete this task, it can save you thousands of dollars. Depending on the type of surface, it may be necessary to sand, power wash, prime and/or seal the surface prior to applying the final coats of paint. When preparing to undertake an exterior painting project, be sure to do your research into how to properly prepare the surface so that the paint adheres fully to the surface and doesn’t fade over time.
- Deck Staining. Deck staining can also be done by property owners themselves with the proper amount of research and time. Similar to exterior painting, it is important to research how to best prepare the surface of your deck before applying any type of stain or sealant to its surface.
Stuff you can Handle Yourself (if you want to):
- Interior Painting. While it is still important to properly wash and prime any wall or ceiling surface requiring paint, interior painting is a relatively easy task. Yes, it’s time consuming, but some folks actually find the work to be rather soothing. Plus, it’s neat to see the instant change and brightening of your interior space.
- Landscaping. Landscaping is a great upgrade that can instantly improve the value of your vacation home, cabin or resort, making it a pleasing place for visitors or potential buyers in the future. Before planting a garden, shrubs or trees in Wisconsin or Minnesota, be sure to research what types of plants are hardy through the winter months. If your space is shaded, be sure to select shade tolerant varieties. Perennials plants are often more expensive when you initially purchase them, but given the fact that they come back year after year, it can be a good investment over the long haul. If you do undertake any type of landscaping project yourself, be sure to consider how to properly grade flower beds next to buildings in order to facilitate proper water drainage away from and around the property, otherwise it is possible to end up with a basement full of water.
- Minor Installations. Hanging curtain rods and pictures does not require property owners to hire a handy-man. Get yourself a good level, a hammer and some high quality nails and take care of such projects yourself.
- Closet upgrades. Provided you are a little bit handy, closet upgrade systems available at most major home supply stores are relatively simple to install for the average home owner. Not to mention, an attractive functional closet can substantially increase the value of your property to prospective buyers.
- Laminate Flooring. At one time, installing hardwood flooring was a seemingly impossible task best left to the professionals. Today, upgrades to laminate flooring products allow property owners to install high quality, durable and attractive flooring systems at a fraction of the cost of their hard wood counter-parts. Many such products utilize a click and seal systems, making installation easy and fast. As an added benefit, laminate flooring does not require the extensive upkeep necessary to maintain the look of hard-wood.
- Cleaning Gutters. Gross, yes. Although this can be a disgusting task of pulling out rotted leaves, dead bugs and other organic matter out of the gutters of your home, this task is important to allow gutters to properly drain roofs, helping to stay off long term water damage. For most property owners, this job should be completed twice a year; once in spring and once in the fall. If such a project necessitates being up on a ladder or step-stool, be sure to exercise proper precautions to avoid serious injury from a tumble.
- Winterizing. Winter is a great time to visit the Northwoods. That being said, many folks are not especially fond of cold weather. If you leave your northern Wisconsin or Minnesota property vacant over the winter months, it is essential that you take the proper steps to winterize your property, preventing pipes from freezing and bursting.
- Interior Decorating. Nothing can brighten up your space more than a bit of interior decorating. While a professional will try to sell you that their services are essential, updating the inside of your vacation property is easy with a little fore-thought and planning. Consult interior decorating magazines for ideas. Construct a theme. Shop local antique stores for unique treasures to spruce up your space. Interior decorating isn’t rocket science. It just requires a vision and a little follow through to create your ideal space.
A Few Final Tips for Property Owners in the Northwoods:
If you are going to be away from your property for any extended period of time, it is a good Idea to have someone you trust check in on your property periodically. Preventative maintenance, cleaning and inspection of furnaces, air conditioners, whole house fans and the like can help nip future problems in the bud before they start. Also, be aware that depending on your specific circumstances, there may be certain tax incentives for property upgrades and maintenance, particularly if they are energy-efficient upgrades. Be sure to check with your tax professional. Building repairs can be daunting. Don’t get in over your head!
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