5 Ways to Winterize Your Home Under $1000

Jul 18, 2017 | Expert Advice

This is a guest post from Yuka Kato of Fixr.com, a website that connects consumers with service professionals in their area and estimates the cost for various projects, from home repair, roofing, remodeling and window installation to painting, flooring, heating, electric and more. Yuka writes about home improvement tips and tricks to help vacation rental owners learn more about improving their properties.

Winterizing Your Home

A vacation property is both a relaxing personal escape and a good source of income when you’re not using it. Many people start out purchasing or using vacation properties meant only for the warmer, summer months. After all, beach locations see some of the highest numbers of vacation rental bookings on TripAdvisor than any other destination type.

 

5 Tips On How To Order Your Photos

But winter vacation rentals are becoming more popular, as travelers seek out the perfect cozy cabin, ski-in/ski-out chalet or modern apartment for a holiday in the city. If your property is located in a four-season area – with great winter fun like skating, skiing or sledding – there’s a good chance you could continue to rent it out through the colder months. And while your vacation property may not be winter ready right now, there are several ways you can get it there, many of which cost under $1,000 to complete.

1. Install Baseboard Heaters

If your vacation property doesn’t have ductwork installed, one of the easiest and least expensive ways of bringing in heat is by installing baseboard heaters. Baseboard heaters use electricity to heat the room from an element located near the floor in front of the baseboard. They can be used alone as the only source of heat in the room, or you can combine them with other methods to ramp up the heat quickly.

Cost: The cost of installing a baseboard heater is around $150 to $200 per hete

Money Saving Tips: Use plug-in heaters whenever possible to eliminate the need for an electrician to hardwire them. Look for energy efficient models that cost less to run per month to save on your electric bill.

2. Insulate the Attic5 Ways To Winterize Your Vacation Home For Under $1,000

Many homes meant just for vacationing are under-insulated, particularly in the attic area. This is understandable if the house is primarily for summer use, but to make it both more comfortable for cooler weather and more energy efficient, it’s important to have the proper amount of insulation. Improving the attic insulation is always the best place to start and will have the most dramatic impact on your heating costs and comfort level.

Cost: The cost of insulating an attic is around $400.

Money Saving Tips: Purchase non-fiberglass insulation batts and install them yourself to save money.

3. Run a Gas Line

Gas is one of the most efficient forms of heating, cooking, and hot water for your home. While you may get by on electricity during the summer months when you aren’t heating the house and your hot water use is at a minimum, switching to gas for the winter can make a big difference in the day-to-day living conditions. Gas appliances tend to be cheaper to run than electric, and may be more efficient as well, making the installation of a gas line a smart move for future comfort and savings

Cost: The cost to run a gas line in your home is around $200 to $500.

Money Saving Tips: Run the gas line at the same time that you purchase a new appliance that runs on gas and have them installed together to save the most money.

Cost compare gas prices for your area to make sure that it’s the best option for your vacation home.

4. Install Storm Windows

One of the fastest ways to insulate your vacation home, make it more comfortable and lower your energy bills is to install storm windows. Storm windows help stop air gap, the most common source of energy loss in most homes. They also help to insulate the house, making the rooms cozier and more energy efficient.

Cost: The cost of installing storm windows is around $275.

Money Saving Tips: If you can’t afford to purchase storm windows for the entire home at once, install them in the coldest rooms of the house first, and use plastic shrink wrap as a temporary solution for the other windows to get a similar effect.

5. Install an Electric Fireplace

One thing that every vacation home needs is a little relaxing ambiance – especially after a hard day on the slopes or snowshoeing backcountry. And when you can mix that ambiance with energy efficiency, the results are even better. An electric fireplace is an inexpensive heating option that mimics the look and feel of a romantic wood-burning stove. The setup is easy, however, and requires a lot less maintenance than the real thing, so you don’t have to worry about things like chimney fires.

Cost

  • The cost of installing an electric fireplace is around $300 for a plug-in unit.

  • Money Saving Tips

  • If you have an existing fireplace, invest in a log insert for only $100 to $200 to get a similar effect for less. Size your insert to the room you’re installing it in to make sure that it’s putting out enough heat, but not driving your electric bills through the roof.

  • Winterize Your Vacation Home

To truly ‘wow’ your guests this winter, use these five tips to make sure your home is prepared for the cold weather. To research average costs of other home projects, check out the Cost Guides from Fixr.com.

Listing on TripAdvisor Rentals means you’ll be advertising your home on the world’s largest travel website. You’ll gain exposure to travelers seeking the perfect accommodation for their winter trip. You can list any property type – cabin, cottage, condo, house, apartment or even spare room. Your listing will be automatically translated to appear on 26 TripAdvisor sites around the world, as well as TripAdvisor-branded sites FlipKey and HolidayLettings. It takes just minutes to set up, and the best part – it’s free.

RELATED ARTICLES

Family Matters: How (And Why) You Should Make Your Property Kid-Friendly

Did you know that the average TripAdvisor traveler is married, has a child or two, and is planning the perfect family vacation? If you aren’t thinking about catering to families—or more specifically, kids—then you could be missing out.

The Secrets To Winning A Certificate Of Excellence

Using data, we’ve compiled a comprehensive lowdown on the response and acceptance rates to aim for, the tools winners use to make their lives easier and much, much more. We’re rooting for you!

Why Try A Long-Term Winter Rental?

This is a guest post from homeowner Rowena, who rents out her home on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Here, she gives us valuable insight into how she’s trying to fill her home with travelers over the winter months.

How Home Automation Can Boost Your Vacation Rental Profits

While home automation requires an initial investment, being able to market your property as a “smart home” could attract more renters and allow you to charge more.

Share This