Big Bear Homeowner Winter Checklist

Winter is Coming! It’s time to get your home ready for the cold, snow-filled, rental season. Here are a few items that can help you save money and protect rents! Some homeowners are more involved with their property than others. If you need our help with any of these items please contact our Operations Department at 909-752-0234 ex 2 or destinationbigbearops@gmail.com.

Snow Removal:

Every homeowner is responsible to sign up with a snow removal vendor. Then Destination Big Bear coordinates and schedules their services. If you have not selected your snow removal company for the season or you need assistance with this please contact: homeownerdbb@gmail.com.

Heaters and Furnaces:

Be sure to change your heater filters. Dirty heater filters are the #1 cause of furnace failures. This simple task could save you thousands and it might only cost you $10 – $15 to do on your own. We recommend changing filters at least twice a year. Please let our Operations staff know if you have taken care of changing your heater filter. If this has not been taken care of by mid-November Destination Big Bear will go ahead and do this for a $35 fee. It is a good idea to change the batteries on the thermostat as well.

Heaters (Portable Electric):

If you have a cold room in your house, make sure you leave a portable electric heater in the closet of that room.

Ice Melt:

If you have a steep driveway we recommend that you get a large 5 – 30 gallon metal can with a lid and fill it with ice melt and provide a large scoop to distribute the ice melt. Some use a gallon milk jug cut-out for your tenants to use. Or a large scoop with a handle as pictured. We will fill up ice melt as needed too.
You May Purchase Ice Melt From a Local Provider at Butcher’s Block.
Click here to BUY ICE MELT & CANS

Outdoor Furniture:

Most outdoor furniture come with coverings but some may be more challenging to cover. We recommend covering whatever you possibly can with good secured outdoor furniture covers. Glass tables will break very easy from 30 degrees and night and 50 during the day. We have witnessed glass tables breaking from just setting a cup of coffee on it. Plastic furniture can easily crack or breakdown completely in cold cold weather. It’s best to bring it into the garage or store it away for the winter months. For awnings and umbrellas, make sure they are down and locked away. Snow loads and winter storm winds can cause both to break and umbrellas. Umbrellas left in the hole on glass tables in windstorms and it caused the glass to shatter. Take precautions.

Shovels:

Avoid metal shovels at your home, they will nick up your decks. Plastic (without sharp edges) or deck-safe shovels are okay. Make accessible to front door for guests if snowfall occurs overnight, they will be able to use them to leave property if snow removal has not been provided at the hour they choose to exit the cabin. Large Push Shovels like the one pictured to the left are ideal and will decrease damage to your decks surfaces.

Snow Poles:

Make sure your snow poles are up marking the entrances of your driveway. You may also need snow poles along the driveways so plows do not take out landscaping. These can be found at Butcher’s Block as well and help to keep your driveways and yards from getting damaged by plow trucks. If your home is located in The City of Big Bear Lake you can pick up poles from the City’s office 39707 Big Bear Blvd. These are large, orange, plastic poles that need to be installed at the edge of your driveway so the city will clear the berms.

Irrigation Systems and Sprinklers:

Make sure your irrigation systems are turned off and drained. Make sure sprinkler systems are closed down, turned off and drained. Please make sure your stop and waste valve is turned off as well.

Weather Stripping:

Make sure your doors and windows have good weather stripping to keep hot air in and the cold out!

Outdoor appliances:

Unplug fridges, drain sinks, turn water off to outdoor elements. Ensure decorative fountains, water landscape elements and pools, etc are winterized properly to avoid damage to motors, burst pipes, etc.

Screens:

Make sure all screen doors are taken down and put it away. Heavy winters will cause snow and ice to get in the slider tracks and these doors always bend slightly and come off. Screens are not needed in the winter. Supply closets and locked garages are good places to store your summertime outdoor items and we highly recommend it.

If you have any further questions or concerns please reach out to our Operations Office at (909)752-0234 Extension 2 or Email:
destinationbigbearops@gmail.com

MORE USEFUL HOMEOWNER INFO

Current Market Conditions

A lot has changed between Jan 2021 and now – vacation rental supply has gone up 50% but occupancy rates are down year over year.

According to AirDNA, 58,000 rentals were added to the market in January 2022, the single biggest addition to supply in a month since the start of the pandemic, leading to some widespread occupancy decline in many regions.

We are dedicated to custom booking solutions. We have been able to be top in our market regarding occupancy due to our very high repeat business.

Thank you again for choosing Destination Big Bear!

If you have further questions about bookings and rates please reach out to:

ratesdbb@gmail.com

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