LOCAL CARE. LASTING RELATIONSHIPS.
Who is watching your Malibu home right now?
Your Malibu home sits empty in one of the harshest climates a house can face: salt air on every metal surface, sun, wind, fire season, and winter storms. 4 Malibu Real Estate is the local team that watches it for you. Routine checks worked from a checklist built for your home, maintenance and vendors coordinated, arrival preparation before you land, and a completed report with notes and photos on the cadence we agree on. We live and work in Malibu. When you cannot be here, we are.
Comprehensive second home care in Malibu, CA
Routine home checks & everyday care
- A room-by-room checklist personalized to your home, with routine visits on the schedule we agree.
- Water and leak checks, HVAC and appliance checks, and systems cycled when they sit idle.
- Pool and spa equipment, exterior condition, beach access, and security status checked.
- Mail collected and packages brought inside.
Maintenance & vendor oversight
- Routine servicing and repairs scheduled, coordinated, and checked after completion.
- Access arranged for landscapers, pool and spa service, cleaners, and trades.
- Coordination with your existing vendors or vetted local vendors we have worked with for years.
- Keys and codes shared only for scheduled work on your behalf.
Seasonal preparation & compliance
- Storm preparation, roof and drainage checks, and attention after major weather events.
- Defensible space and exterior checks ahead of fire season, with conditions monitored while you are away.
- Seasonal systems servicing and coordination of HOA and City of Malibu requirements.
Arrival preparation & owner reporting
- Cleaning, systems turned on, and the home checked before you, family, or guests arrive.
- Departure close-up and a return to your routine check schedule.
- Owner reporting. After visits you receive the completed checklist with our routine notes and photos, and a recommendation whenever something needs attention. Spending is tracked and reported, so the state of the home and the money spent on it are never a guess.
- Bill pay. Household bill payment and tracking can be included in your management plan. Your monthly fee is based on the services you choose.
Who cares for your second home in Malibu, CA?
4 Malibu Real Estate is a locally owned, licensed brokerage at 22605 Pacific Coast Hwy in Malibu, managing homes here since 2010. Our second home clients split their time between Malibu and somewhere else, and they trust us to be their eyes and ears: the home stays secure, maintained, and ready for their return, and small issues get handled before they become big ones. Because we are a brokerage as well as a management team, the same people who care for your home can also lease it or sell it when your plans change.
Get to know our local brokerage and read what our clients say.
What does a routine home check in Malibu, CA cover?
Every home gets its own extensive checklist, built at the first walk-through and personalized room by room: each bedroom, the living room, the kitchen, the laundry room, a guest house, outdoor areas, whatever your home has. A routine check works through that checklist: running water and checking for leaks, cycling systems that sit idle, HVAC and appliance checks, pool and spa equipment, roof and drainage after storms, exterior and beach access points (salt air is hard on stairs, railings, and hardware), security system status, and mail and packages brought inside. The completed checklist goes to you on the cadence we agree on together, with our routine notes and photos from the visit, and anything that needs attention comes with a recommendation, not a surprise at your next arrival.
How do we prepare for your arrival in Malibu, CA?
Tell us when you are coming and the home is ready before you arrive:
- Cleaned throughout, with linens and towels set
- Systems on and checked: water, HVAC, pool and spa, and lighting
- The routine checklist worked through, so anything found is handled or reported before you land, not discovered by you
- Mail and packages brought in and set aside for you
When you leave, we close the home back up: perishables cleared, systems set back, the home secured, and the check rhythm resumed. If family or guests use the home between your visits, we coordinate their arrivals and departures the same way.
How do we prepare Malibu, CA homes for fire and storm season?
Malibu homes need watching most when the weather turns, so managed second homes get a defined season protocol: defensible space and exterior checks before fire season, storm preparation ahead of major rain, increased attention while conditions are active, and a check of the home after events pass, reported to you with photos. Our El Niño season preparation guide on the blog covers how we get homes ready.
Renting your Malibu, CA home for part of the year?
If you rent your home for part of the year, we handle tenant placement and care between stays too: leasing, tenant communication, cleanings, check-ins, and quality control, all from the same team that already knows the home. City of Malibu rules apply and we advise on compliance. Details are on our rental property management page.
Explore our Malibu property management services for the full picture.
How does second home management in Malibu, CA begin?
1. A conversation
Tell us about the home and how you use it.
2. A walk-through
We visit the home and note its systems, vendors, and needs.
3. A written plan and a flat monthly fee
Your monthly fee is based on your home, the visit schedule, and the services you choose to include. We confirm the scope and fee in writing before care begins.
4. Care begins
Routine checks start on the schedule established for your home, vendors are coordinated under one roof, and your completed checklists come to you on the cadence we agreed, with our routine notes and photos, plus a call whenever something needs your decision.
Who has access to your second home in Malibu, CA?
Our clients' names, addresses, and details are never published or shared. Keys and access codes are held by our team and given only to vendors we coordinate on your behalf, for scheduled work. You always know who is going into your home and why.
Renovations for your second home in Malibu, CA
Through our affiliate, DB Pacific Construction LLC, we provide renovation, remodeling, and repair support with full transparency and professional project management. You are welcome to use any contractor you prefer.
Second home management FAQs for Malibu, CA
What is second home management, and how is it different from property management?
Property management centers on a tenant: leasing, rent, and tenant relations. Second home management centers on an empty home and an absent owner: scheduled checks, maintenance, vendor coordination, and arrival preparation so the home is cared for and ready. Many of our clients use both at different times of year.
How often do you check our home?
Routine walk-through inspections, on a schedule established with you for your home. We set the schedule with you at the start, adjust it as the home needs, and add attention during fire season and around major storms.
What does a home check include?
Your home has its own checklist, built room by room at our first walk-through and worked through on every check: water and leak checks, systems and appliances cycled and tested, pool and spa equipment, roof and drainage after storms, exterior and beach access condition, and security status, in every bedroom, living space, kitchen, laundry room, and guest house the home has. The completed checklist is sent to you on the cadence we agree on, with our routine notes and photos from the visit.
Can you get the home ready before we arrive?
Yes. Arrival preparation is part of the service: the home is cleaned, checked, and ready when you get there, and closed back up after you leave.
What happens during fire season or a big storm?
We prepare managed homes ahead of the season, watch conditions while you are away, and check the home after events. If something needs a decision from you, you hear it from us directly and promptly.
How much does second home management cost in Malibu?
Your monthly fee is based on your home, the visit schedule, and the services you want included. We agree on the scope with you and provide a written plan and fee before care begins.
Can you work with our existing housekeeper, landscaper, or pool service?
Yes. We coordinate the vendors you already trust, and if you need one, we bring in vetted local vendors we have worked with for years.
Who has keys and access to our home?
Our team holds keys and codes, and access goes only to vendors we schedule on your behalf. Your home's details are never shared or published.
We might rent the home part of the year. Can you handle that too?
Yes. We handle tenant placement and care between stays under the same roof, and advise on City of Malibu rental rules. Our rental property management page covers the leasing side in detail.
Are you licensed and local?
Yes. 4 Malibu Real Estate is a California licensed brokerage (CA DRE #01889550) with our office in Malibu at 22605 Pacific Coast Hwy. Danielle Dutcher and Bobby LehmKuhl are brokers and partners, and the team lives and works in Malibu.
How do we get started?
Call 310.456.0220 or email [email protected]. We will talk through the home, walk it with you or for you, and give you a written plan and fee before you decide anything.
Local care across Malibu, CA
Explore the neighborhoods we know, from beachfront homes to landside retreats.
More guidance for second home owners in Malibu, CA
- What Does a Malibu Second-Home Manager Do Between Visits?Read More
- From Sand to Security: How We Manage Malibu’s Elite Beachfront Properties Year-RoundRead More
- How to Prepare Your Malibu Property for the El Niño SeasonRead More
- How to Switch Property Managers in Malibu When Your Home Is Already LeasedRead More
Let’s talk about your Malibu property
Tell us about your home and what you need: full management, leasing, or a second opinion on your current setup. We’ll give you an honest read on whether we’re the right fit.
