Cottage rental basics
« Previous Entries Next Entries »What’s In Your Cottage Guide?
Thursday, February 28th, 2008f you have ever stayed at a vacation rental you will know that one of the first things you look for is the book that tells you where everything is, how to work certain appliances, where to find the local grocery store, and what to do in an emergency.
Well, maybe not […]
Does Your Cottage Have A Name?
Sunday, February 24th, 2008I like cottage names. A good name is evocative, inspiring or downright cute, and looks so much better on a sign than a house number or the surname of the owners. Great names are inspired by an array of sources - trees, animals, locations and views, literature and legends - and can be generated […]
8 Great Ideas for Vacation Home Owners
Wednesday, February 20th, 20081 Magnetic door locks
When you spend time in your own cottage, there will be things you don’t want to take home with you, or pack away in totes. Storing them in a cupboard that is designated as ‘owners’ storage’ is the best way if you don’t want guests using particular items. You’ll need to find […]
How to Start Renting our Your Cottage
Saturday, February 16th, 2008I’m at Cottage Fest this weekend. This is the first cottage show of the season at the Markham Fairgrounds, and is always a good way to spend a snowy weekend in February. As it falls on our new Ontario long weekend, it also a good opportunity to get out with the family and for a […]
Are You Welcoming Your International Guests?
Tuesday, January 22nd, 2008I was reading posts on Lay My Hat yesterday, which is my new favourite forum for vacation home owners. It’s a great read and quite illuminating in places as I would guess over 90% of the forum members have their rentals in Europe which gives a whole new perspective on the international rental industry […]
The High Cost of Buying Cheap
Sunday, January 20th, 2008When we travelled out from England to buy our first vacation rental home in Ontario, we had a week to close, furnish and set it up for rental. At that time, we didn’t have the big stores in UK like Wal*Mart and Home Depot -at least not where I lived - so we were […]
ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A COTTAGE RENTER?
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
We’ve all heard stories about Cottage renters who, during their stay at a Cottage, have either wrecked something, done something stupid, failed to follow instructions given, left the cottage in a mess or upset the neighbours. Many of these tales may just be legend or embellished over time to make a better story. However, […]
How to Spot a Cherry Picker and Other Rental Tips
Tuesday, January 8th, 2008It can be very frustrating to spend hours on the phone and in emails with a prospective renter, only to find they never contact you again. The cost of that time can be hefty, particularly if you’re so convinced they are going to book that you hold the week for them, thereby losing other potential […]
Why Don’t Guests Read the Cottage Guide?
Monday, January 7th, 2008I was talking with a cottage owner this weekend who remarked that he could not understand why renters cannot seem to follow the simplest of instructions in the cottage guide. One explanation could be that they follow them too closely and my experience after my Christmas renters supports this.
We ask our rental guests to leave […]
Leaving the Door Wide Open and Other Security Measures!
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008How do your renters access your cottage? Do you mail them keys, or hide them under a flowerpot, in the barbecue or on a hook under the deck? I’m often amazed at the ingenuity of home owners in finding new places to conceal their keys, but wonder why on earth they don’t use a […]
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