Second homes & seasonal
Less to go wrong, and one thing that goes very wrong.
The easiest property to leave empty, right up until a supply line fails and it becomes six units’ problem.
Typical duration
Weeks to months, repeatedly
Notice you get
Varies
Contactable?
Yes
Dominant risk
In-suite water, and what it costs in a stacked building
A condo is genuinely lower-maintenance to leave empty. No roof, no yard, no snow clearing, no exterior. Owners buy them partly for that, and they are right to.
The exception is water, and the exception is expensive. In a stacked building a supply failure in your unit goes down into the units below and into common property, and Alberta condominium bylaws frequently allow the corporation to charge its deductible back to the unit where the loss originated — commonly in the tens of thousands, regardless of fault.
Access is the other distinguishing feature. Fobs, elevator bookings, visitor parking, concierge procedures and registration requirements all vary by building and all have to be arranged before the first visit rather than at the door.
What makes this different
Every situation on this site is empty for a reason. These are the things specific to this one.
A short checklist with one large item on it
Almost everything is somebody else’s responsibility. The one thing that is not can cost more than any of them.
Deductible chargeback is the real exposure
The financial risk is not the damage to your unit. It is the corporation’s deductible landing on you.
Building access has to be arranged in advance
Fobs, elevators, parking and concierge procedures vary by building and are the practical obstacle.
What typically goes wrong
- An in-suite supply failure becoming a multi-unit claim
- A deductible chargeback the owner did not know was possible
- Dry traps across several unused fixtures
- Access arrangements not sorted before the first visit
Services
What this situation usually involves
In roughly the order people add them.
Vacant Home Checks
Scheduled physical visits to an unoccupied property, with a timestamped photo record and a written report after every visit.
Interior Property Check
A walk of accessible interior areas recording temperature, water evidence, heating operation, odours and general condition.
Temperature & Freeze-Risk Observation
A recorded interior temperature reading at each visit, with freeze-risk observations through the Alberta winter.
Mail & Package Checks
Mail and parcels collected, brought inside and organised to your written instructions, with notification of anything that looks important.
Plant Watering
Indoor and outdoor plants watered to your written per-plant instructions, with a photo confirmation after each visit.
Other second homes & seasonal
Need someone at the house?
Tell us what the property needs. Direct services throughout Greater Calgary.