Maintenance Tips for Full Time & Seasonal Homeowners

(Because sunshine comes easy—but a low-maintenance home takes planning.)

Whether you live in Naples full-time or fly in just long enough to miss your snowblower ❄️🛫, one thing is true for everyone: paradise comes with maintenance 🔧.

Don’t get me wrong - Naples living is worth every bit of it. Our sunsets alone 🌅 deserve their own fan club. But while our climate is beautiful, it’s also relentless. Sun 🌞, salt air 🌬️, humidity 💦, pests 🐜, and the occasional tropical storm 🌪️ all have opinions about your home - whether you’re there or not.

And that’s where I come in not just as your real estate expert,👩‍💼 but as your guide to making sure your home stays in top shape, no matter how often you’re here. Fortunately, in Naples, there’s always someone for that and I’m more than happy to recommend the very best.

Let’s break it down, because what you need depends on how you live.

🕶️ For the Seasonal Residents (aka Snowbirds Living Their Best Life)

We love you, seasonal homeowners. You arrive just in time for peak weather ☀️ and peak dining 🍽️, and the town feels just a bit more social and sparkly ✨ when you're here. But when you leave for the summer 🌴, your home becomes a very quiet tropical oven 🔥 one that needs consistent care and a solid exit strategy 🧳.

Here’s how to keep things smooth while you’re gone (and avoid surprises 😬 when you return):

1. Hire a Reliable Home Watch Service Not Just a Neighbor With a Key 🔑

Sure, your neighbor is lovely 😊. But what happens when they head out of town 🛫 or forget to check in for three weeks? A professional home watch service is trained to inspect 🔍 your property regularly and identify small issues before they turn into big, expensive messes 💸. Leaks 💧, mold 🦠, A/C failure 🌬️, storm damage 🌪️ these pros know what to look for.

➡️ Need a recommendation? I have a shortlist of trusted providers 📋.

2. Defend Against the Florida Humidity Monster 💦

Humidity here is no joke. A closed-up home in July becomes the ideal habitat for mold colonies 🧫 you don’t want to meet. Set your A/C around 76-78°F 🌡️, and keep humidity under 60%. Use a humidistat, and consider a smart thermostat 📱 so you can check in from wherever you are - whether that's Michigan, Montreal, or Machu Picchu 🏔️.

Leave a few replacement filters 🧃 behind for your home watch provider, too. Your air handler will thank you 🙏.

3. Hurricane Season Prep: Don’t Skip It ⛈️

If you leave before June 📆, prepare your home 🏠 for storm season. This includes:

• Securing or storing outdoor furniture 🪑

• Installing or confirming functionality of storm shutters 🛡️

• Ensuring gutters are clear and drainage systems are working 💧

• Checking your insurance coverage 📑 (yes, wind mitigation reports matter!)r!)

Also, have a local contact 📞 someone who can check on your home post-storm or coordinate with your insurance provider if needed. (Hint: I can help here too 😉.)

4. Shut It Down (Smartly) 🔌

Turn off the water 🚰 at the main valve. Consider draining your water heater and turning off the breaker ⚡. Unplug non-essential electronics to prevent surge damage 🔋. You don’t need your toaster to be active while you’re gone for five months, unless your toaster is smarter than mine and also waters the plants 🌿.

Also: flush the toilets 🚽, clean the disposal 🧼, and maybe even leave an open box of baking soda 🥄 in the fridge like grandma taught us. It works.

5. Mail, Deliveries & HOA Surprises 📬

Forward your mail ✉️. Stop newspaper delivery 🗞️ (unless you like coming back to a pile that says “I’m not home!” 🏚️).

Check in with your HOA 🏘️ to make sure you’re receiving notices - some will send emails 💻, others still drop paper letters like it’s 1988 📠. Either way, stay in the loop 🔁 to avoid fines for things like “overgrown hedges” 🌳 or “holiday lights left up until Easter” 🎄🐣.

🏠 For the Full-Time Residents (aka Proud Survivors of Naples in August)

You’re the ones who endure the steam-room summers 🔥, dodge afternoon lightning bolts ⚡ like it’s a sport 🏃‍♂️, and know which restaurants still offer locals’ specials 🍷 after season ends. But don’t let that full-time badge fool you—your home still needs proactive love 💕 and attention to survive and thrive in this subtropical setting 🌺.

1. Your A/C System Is Basically Family - Treat It That Way 🌀

In Naples, your relationship with your A/C unit is deeply personal 🫶. Give it biannual maintenance 🧰, change the filters monthly 📅 (or every other month at most), and please don’t wait until it sounds like a dying lawnmower before you call for help 📞.

When your A/C breaks in July 🥵, it’s not just uncomfortable - it’s a borderline crisis 🚨. You will sweat in places you didn’t know could sweat 💦.

➡️ Need an honest HVAC pro who shows up? I’ve got a few ✅.

2. Make Friends With Your Pest Control Tech 🐜

Florida bugs are not shy. Ants 🐜, termites 🐛, palmetto bugs 🪳, geckos 🦎, and things you thought only existed in sci-fi movies will try to cohabitate 🏠. Routine pest service is a must.

➡️ Pro tip: regular exterior treatments prevent the indoor “surprise factor” 😱. Bonus: pest control techs usually know all the neighborhood gossip 🗣️. You're welcome.

3. Roof, Gutters, and Drainage = Your Storm Season Shield 🌧️

You may not have snow buildup ❄️, but summer storms ⛈️ can test any roof’s limits. Keep an eye out 👀 for lifted shingles, cracked tiles 🧱, or blocked gutters. Trim back trees 🌳 and check those drains - because flooding isn’t just a coastal thing 🌊. One tropical downpour and your walkway turns into a moat 🏰.

4. Outdoor Maintenance Is Year-Round (Yes, Even in “Winter”) ☀️

Your lanai furniture 🪑, grill 🍖, pool cage 🏊, pavers 🧱, and planters 🪴 are constantly exposed to sun 🌞, salt 🌬️, pollen 🌼, and UV rays ☣️. Power washing every few months 🧽 helps everything stay crisp and welcoming 🤝.

And please, for your own sanity 🧘‍♂️, keep the screens on your lanai in good repair. Florida mosquitoes 🦟 are persistent optimists and they will find that one little hole 😅.

5. Keep an Eye on Your Paint, Caulk, and Window Seals 🎨

The elements here are sneakily destructive 🫣. Even newer homes 🏡 can show wear quickly. Look for cracking paint, dry caulk 🧴, or rusting hardware 🔩. These little things are easy to ignore until they become big-ticket repairs 💸.

And if you’ve ever tried to open a sliding glass door 🚪 that’s been beaten by salt and sand 🏖️ for two seasons, you know the struggle is real 😤.

🧰 The Best News? There’s Always Someone for That

Naples is full of amazing service providers 👷‍♂️🧑‍🔧. From the guy who’ll re-screen your lanai in an afternoon ☀️, to the plumber who knows your entire street by name 🚰, to the meticulous pool pros who adjust pH levels like scientists 🧪- there’s always someone for the job ✅.

And lucky for you 🍀, I’ve worked with the best of them. Whether you need:

• A home watch pro 👁️

• HVAC technician 🌬️

• Pressure washer 💦

• Pool maintenance 🏊

• Pest control 🐜

• Painter 🎨

• Roof inspector 🏠

• Handyman 🔨

• Or just a second opinion 💬

➡️ I’ve got a contact 📇. And if I don’t? I’ll find one 🔍.

✅ Bottom Line: Owning a Home in Naples Is Amazing—But It’s Not Set-It-and-Forget-It

Whether you live here part-time 🕶️ or full-time 🌴, the key to long-term enjoyment 😊 (and protecting your investment 💰) is staying ahead of the little things before they turn into big ones.

But don’t worry you don’t have to do it alone 🤝.

💁‍♀️ I’m not just your Realtor. I’m your resource. Your connector 🔗. Your go-to gal for all things Naples homeownership 🏡 and for Naples homeowner maintenance tips..

So don’t hesitate to reach out 📲, whether you need a home maintenance checklist ✅, a trusted vendor 🧰, or just want to make sure your lanai ceiling fan is turning in the right direction for summer 🌀. (Yes, that’s a thing.)

Renee Hahn Your Naples Real Estate Expert

Helping you protect, enjoy, and fully live the Florida lifestyle - one detail (and one great referral) at a time.

📍Naples, Florida

📞(239) 293-8079

🌐 www.YourNaplesExpert.com

📧 Renee@YourNaplesExpert.com 

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