The vacation rental industry has changed rapidly in the last several years, and it’s now easier than ever to rent out your home or condo on a weekly basis. Whether you’d like to permanently convert your home into a vacation rental or just rent out your home for a few weeks, there are people who want to rent it and local real estate agents such as Thomas D. Brown Real Estate and Cape Vacation Rentals that help make it happen. Do keep in mind that renting out your home can be a big undertaking, so it is important to know what you are getting into and to prepare accordingly. With a little bit of planning and work, you can put your home to work for you!
Getting your Home Ready to Rent
- Keep careful records.Rental income is taxable, but many of the expenses you will incur as you
prepare your rental are tax deductible. Keep detailed records of the money and time you spend getting your home ready to rent so that you can maximize your deductions at tax time.
- Apply for a rental permit.Permits are not necessary in all areas, especially for short-term rentals, but many areas are responding to the growth of new rental trends by creating new forms of regulation. If a permit is required in your area, give yourself plenty of time to get through the application process before your first guests arrive. Remember that permitting and inspection fees, like all other expenses you incur while preparing your rental property, are tax deductible.
- Acquire landlord insurance.Call your local insurance agent and ask if your current homeowner’s policy will cover the kind of rental situation you will be offering. Many policies will cover the occasional short-term rental, but for more long-term arrangements, you may need special coverage.
- Prepare your home to rent, inside and out.Make sure that all appliances work, furniture and beds are comfortable and in good condition; everything should be clean and neat. Ensure that safety equipment like smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers are in
good working order and are clearly accessible. Remove all precious personal belongings to a secure location, such as a storage unit or primary home. Do the same with all toiletries and anything else you wouldn’t want to share. Put clean linens on all of the beds (if you are planning on supplying linens) and make sure that bathrooms are stocked with clean towels, soap dispensers are full, etc. The requirements for safety equipment in rental properties vary widely by region. Smoke detectors are the bare minimum in most places. You will be informed of further requirements through the permitting process. Unless you are going for a very high-end rental, do not furnish your rental with extremely expensive furniture, linens, towels, etc. Look for items of decent quality that are not overly expensive but still comfortable.
- Hire a reputable cleaning service.Some property owners are able to minimize costs by performing rental clean-outs on their own; this can be a very time-consuming process, so it might be better worth your time to hire a professional service. If you do, be sure to do some research first and hire a reputable company that is licensed and insured. Get personal recommendations from your rental agent, other property owners, or look for a service with excellent recommendations.
- Hire a landscaping service.As with cleaning, some property owners take on landscaping chores
themselves, but you may be better off hiring a landscaping service to take care of routine lawn maintenance and care. Landscaping services, like cleaning services and other maintenance costs are all tax deductible; a well-maintained yard is more likely to get good reviews and repeat renters.
- Create a system for providing a key or entry instructions to your guests. This is something that can be handled by your rental agent. The check in and checkout instructions will be detailed with the lease and any inquiries can be directed to the rental agent and their office.
- Create a welcome book or informational packet to give to guests when they arrive.Include information about the home and the local area. Providing information on local attractions and dining options, as well as emergency contact information is an option that guests love. Leaving a welcome gift like a fruit basket or bottle of wine is another great way to welcome guests and keep them coming back year after year.
Renting your home as a vacation rental can be a great opportunity and a source of income. The key is surrounding yourself with people you trust that will help and guide you through the process. Why deal with preparing leases and collecting deposits when your agent can handle that for you. Call Lucy or Annie today to get your house listed for this coming vacation season. Let Cape Vacation Rentals handle the hard part!
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