The Home Work Journal · By Alyson Rice
Congratulations! You officially have two addresses to call home! How exciting…and potentially overwhelming all at the same time!
Maybe summer means afternoons beside one of the many beautiful lakes the Okanagan has to offer, and winter means somewhere with considerably less frost on the windshield.
Maybe you spend a few glorious months here every year, then head home to another province. Or perhaps your Okanagan place is your favourite escape, even if you only get to enjoy it a few times a season.
Whatever your arrangement, owning a home you don’t live in full-time comes with a slightly different to-do list.
Unfortunately, while you’re enjoying life somewhere else, your Okanagan home is still here, and it hasn’t figured out how to look after itself.
So who’s keeping an eye on things when you’re not?
Part-time living. Full-time property.
A home doesn’t stop being a home because you’ve closed the door for the season. There’s still weather, heating, plumbing, doors, windows, and the occasional surprise that never consulted your travel schedule.
And Okanagan seasons have personalities of their own. A warm summer visit and an extended winter absence bring very different considerations.
A scheduled visual home check can provide useful information about the condition of accessible areas and help flag visible concerns. It’s not a guarantee that every problem will be found, but it is more purposeful than hoping someone happens to notice something from the road.
Smart technology is great. A real person is pretty handy too.
Let’s give the gadgets some credit. Smart thermostats, leak detectors, cameras and remote security alerts can be genuinely useful when you’re away. I love anything that gives a homeowner more information.
But even very clever technology can’t step inside, have a look around and tell you whether something seems off. Cameras only see where they’re pointed, sensors only report what they’re designed to detect, and both may rely on working power or internet. Smart monitoring and a real person doing agreed, scheduled visual checks? Now we’re talking.
Nothing quite replaces having someone physically there to look at the accessible areas of your home. That doesn’t mean round-the-clock monitoring or a guarantee that every issue will be caught. It means an agreed checklist, documented observations during scheduled visits, and clear communication when something needs your attention. If your system flags a concern, we can discuss who is authorized to take the appropriate next steps.
There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all checklist.
The right plan begins with a conversation about your home and what matters to you.
We can start with standard visual observations, such as accessible signs of water concerns, heating issues, and security concerns. Then we agree on the details specific to your property. Maybe there’s a particular area you worry about, a seasonal consideration, or a question you’d really rather not be asking yourself from an airport lounge.
We agree on the visit schedule, checklist, documentation, and communication process before anything starts. If something is observed that needs attention, you’ll know what was found and what decisions are yours to make.
And yes, your insurance policy has a say in this too.
Your insurance policy deserves its own conversation.
Seasonal or secondary properties can have different insurance conditions from homes occupied year-round. The distinction between a temporarily unoccupied home and a vacant property can also matter, along with the season, length of absence, and how the property is used.
Before you leave, speak with your insurance representative about your specific coverage. Ask whether visits are required, how often, what they must involve, and what documentation is expected. If your home is used only part of the year or rented out at any point, make sure they know that.
For a helpful starting point, the Insurance Bureau of Canada has a guide to seasonal property insurance:
Helpful resourceInsurance Bureau of Canada: Seasonal Property InsuranceRead the guide ↗
Your insurer is the one who can explain the actual requirements of your policy.
I can build any relevant conditions you’ve confirmed with your insurer into our agreed visual-check checklist, where they fall within my scope. But a home check doesn’t replace the insurer’s advice or guarantee a claim will be covered.
Sometimes the assignment is more than a check.
Here’s another familiar scenario. The property is fine, but now a supplier needs access. A service appointment has to be coordinated. Someone needs to connect a few dots before your next visit.
That’s where Home Concierge and Project Coordination can make a difference. With your authorization, I can help coordinate appointments, communicate with the people doing the work, arrange agreed property access, and keep you updated on next steps.
And here’s where having a trusted local keeper of keys and access codes can make a real difference. With your written permission and an agreed access plan, my role can include being there to let approved trades and suppliers into your home, checking who’s authorized to attend, and keeping you informed about the appointment. Those details matter when you’re miles away.
I don’t perform construction, repairs, or maintenance myself. I’m the organized, dependable local point of contact who helps the right people get access and keeps the assignment moving.
Your Okanagan home. Your plan.
Every homeowner has different priorities, and that’s exactly why I don’t believe in handing everyone the same list and calling it a day.
We start with a conversation. We gather information. We decide what support makes sense for your home and your time away. One decision leads to the next, and you’re always in control of what happens next.
Whether you’re following the sun, splitting your year between provinces, or counting down to your next visit, the goal is simple: fewer loose ends at your Okanagan home and clearer information while you’re elsewhere.
Your home. My assignment.
