Cottage rental basics
« Previous EntriesFive Complaints That Can Easily Be Prevented
Monday, July 21st, 2008 Put yourself in your rental guests’ shoes.
Perhaps you live in a high-rise condo building. You have a small balcony overlooking another high-rise condo building, so the only time you can enjoy fresh air and better views is when you get away from home. You’ve rented a cottage and spent the last few months […]
Seven Keys to a Happy Rental Season
Friday, July 11th, 2008 Hopefully, your rental season has kicked off on a positive note, and all will run smoothly through the summer. Your renters will all be totally knocked out by your property, won’t bother you with any issues, and you’ll get to the end of the season without a single problem.
And pigs might fly……….
Seriously, if you […]
Friends And Relatives As Renters
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008I talk frequently with cottage owners who are considering renting and are understandably a little apprehensive about the prospect of strangers in their property. A common decision is to start out by renting to friends and relatives because it feels more comfortable when they know their rental guests, but there’s evidence to show this […]
What Do You Leave In Your Cupboards?
Monday, June 30th, 2008We manage the rental of about 120 cottages at CottageLINK Rental Management so weekends are pretty busy here in the office as families check in. We ask that guests let us know if they have any complaints, or need to report something that needs repair or maintenance, within the first 24 hours of occupation […]
What Should Your Renters Bring To The Cottage?
Saturday, June 28th, 2008 New owners often ask what they should provide for renters to ensure their cottage rental vacation gets off to a good start. I like to hear this because it tells me the owners are already feeling a responsibility to their clients, which is not always the case.
I recall hearing of a situation where a […]
Educating Your Guests in the Etiquette of Cottage Living
Friday, June 13th, 2008I recently read a forum post from a non-renting cottage owner blaming cottage renters on his lake for all manner of poor behaviour. Late night noise, operating watercraft in an unsafe and irresponsible manner, and general rowdiness were a few of the complaints levelled at the rental groups.
This is not the first time I have […]
Being Pet Friendly Could Be The Key To Increased Occupancy
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008I spoke to a number of renters today looking for last minute availability for the summer. One of them wanted three full weeks in August. I know of plenty of cottages that have weeks empty but none of them are pet friendly, so had to turn away all the potential clients as they all […]
Dealing With Damage - Do You Have a Plan?
Thursday, June 5th, 2008No matter how well you screen your renters, talk to them before their vacation, and educate them with your cottage manual, there is a risk of damage. Some damage we can accept and will write off, but there’s other situations where we must take a practical approach and put the responsibility for payment firmly in […]
Rainy Day Activities at the Cottage - An Owners’ Guide
Wednesday, June 4th, 2008There’s no arguing it has been a damp and rainy spring, offset by the occasional glimpse of summer. And hopefully, given the recent forecast for June and July, the warm weather is coming. However, I’ve learned over the past few years that preparing my cottage for rainy weather is just as important as making […]
5 Ways To Fill Up Your Empty Rental Weeks
Sunday, May 25th, 2008This may not apply to you if your rental cottage, cabin or villa is already fully booked for the summer. But if you have only just listed your property, or traffic is slow so far this year, it may be time to take some remedial action on your listings.
Here’s my top five tips to increase […]