It was interesting to read an article from an Australian, newspaper titled ‘Goodbye Shacks, Hello Luxury’ commenting on a move away from the traditional ‘Aussie shack’ to higher end vacation rental properties.
One realtor is quoted as saying:
“A few years ago people were happy to settle for a holiday rental that was less appealing than their own home, but now most will only settle for something that’s much better”
There are few areas now where travellers seeking a self catering vacation are willing to accept second rate accommodation, and this can only benefit the rental industry as a whole as consumers become more demanding,. While there may be some local by-laws or provincial legislation in place to prevent less customer-focused owners from foisting their sub-standard properties onto an unsuspecting market, ’shacks’ still exist and it’s up to the rental public to name them and shame them in reviews and forums.
Vacation rental managers have seen this trend developing for a long time and most will only accept quality properties into their portfolios. However, well over half of properties advertised online are privately listed and a glance at some of the listing sites, particularly those here in Ontario, still shows that quality issues are not high on some owner’s priority lists.
The increase of properties onto the rental market offers so much choice that renters are likely to quickly discard any that are not instantly appealing. Second rate accommodation will simply not be acceptable any longer and owners wanting to remain competitive and stay in the rental business will need to heed this trend and make improvements. The argument that ‘It’s just a cottage, and people expect it to be basic’ is not valid any longer and this applies to the smallest of properties.
This photo is the dining area in a 650 sq ft cottage and show just what can be done even in the smallest space. I’ll be featuring this property and the owner’s customer focus in a series of posts later this month.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Great Post! I whole heartedly agree that people are willing to shell out a little more to stay in a nicer place. I know I’m making it a priority to beef up my website for my luxury rental property near Sandbanks near Picton, ON. http://www.wellingtonplace.ca I think it will pay off if I spend some money and match the website experience with the vacation experience.
Timely topic considering this news story I came across earlier today
http://www.khon2.com/news/local/37072874.html
Scott V’s last blog post..Vacation Rental Resolutions
The rustic coziness and simplicity of an authentic cottage should not be belittled by insisting that 50″ tvs, high speed connections, and other luxury items are required for a relaxing vacation. I do not dispute that there is a want for more luxury items in standard rentals – especially in urban settings- but please do not imply that gyprock, granite, fancy toys and new furnishings should be required across the board. A successful cottage is not “second rate”, but comfortable simplicity that allows people to reconnect with nature, clear their mind and realign their values. By comparing only 1 extreme (shack) with another (more luxurious than their own home), you have belittled all the cottages who provide their guests with an extraordinary opportunity to leave the stress of consumerism behind and reconnect to the basics.
Hi Diana
I wholeheartedly agree that comfortable simplicity meets the needs of many people and we are often asked for this by rental clients. The cottage shown on the photo above is tiny, simply furnished and could not be considered luxurious, but the owner has gone to considerable lengths to create such an opportunity as you describe.
I speak to hundreds of renters each week and their top requirements after location and waterfront, are good quality mattresses, and cleanliness, which doesn’t seem too much to ask for. I have seen dozens of cottages where ‘authenticity’ seems to be derived from the amount of mouse droppings in drawers and cupboards, and the generations of dead bugs piled up in corners and on window sills.
Cottages, and vacation rentals across the board, come in all shapes and sizes and need to appeal to a wide range of potential renters, but simple standards should be maintained as well. My own first experience of a cottage rental was a two day cleaning exercise just to bring it to a minimum standard. We had to buy covers to put on the stained and stinking mattresses before we could go to bed, and clean up several dead mice from food cupboards. I hate to think of other unsuspecting renters paying hard earned money for a similar experience.
Comfort is a very important criterion for me when choosing somewhere to rent. A few features of a place we rented recently (through a site which claims to be a cut above the rest):
The property had a double bedroom plus a 2nd bedroom with bunk beds plus a sofa i.e. capacity to sleep 5 but
- the living area (kitchen/dining/sitting) could barely hold 5 people standing up
- the only comfortable seating was a 2 seater sofa
- the dining table had 4 chairs
- the kitchen had just 2 electric rings (plus a microwave)
In addition to being very small, the downstairs was very dark and uninviting when you walked in.
In the bathroom, the shower had a curtain (didn’t those go out with the ark?) and if you switched on the shower, the shower head couldn’t be fixed so it whizzed round and showered the bathroom. The blankets provided were not long enough. I don’t think the sheets were either as we ended up with the sheets and blankets in a total mess each morning. The beds had soft mattresses and fairly high wooden sides – really uncomfortable to sleep in and get out of. The back garden was a dingy uncared for area clearly meant only for barbecuing.
We left a day early because it was clear it was going to rain and we could not face staying in such a dingy place for a whole day.
On the plus side, the owner (who was not on site) could not have been more helpful in our email correspondence. And the place was clean. And the view from the balcony was to die for.
But I wouldn’t go back there. I want to feel comfortable on holiday – isn’t there a way of gauging this in advance? It seems not.