Renting Your Vacation Home

Do you find yourself not using that golf courserates for peak season.
cottage or mountain ski lodge as often as youAdvertise!
might? However, you just cannot bring yourselfList it and they will come. Take advantage of all
to put it up for sale because the property hasavenues to advertise your vacation home. The
been in your family for generations. Or maybe itsInternet is one of the most important ways, but
value continues to skyrocket. No matter theoften not the only way to rent your property.
reason, you may want consider renting yourLocal classified ads, real estate agents and even
vacation home. Renting is a great way to offsetthe Chamber of Commerce are often untapped
the mortgage, maintenance costs and taxesresources for landlords.
incurred. If you are shrewd, renting your vacationThe Renters
home can turn a negative into a positive cashAs a new landlord, you may be subject to state
flow.and local laws that govern renting your vacation
Rental Pricehome. Check with the state attorney general and
Are you ready to do some research? Thethe local Chamber of Commerce for any
number one error made by families new toregulations that may apply.
renting their vacation homes is setting a rateEstablish rules for prospective tenants.
competitive in their market. A good rule of thumbCommunicate these clearly in your listing and
is to use your monthly mortgage payment as areiterate it to them when the guests arrive. List
weekly rental fee. After 12 weeks of renting outthese expectations in the rental agreement to
your vacation home, you have paid the mortgageprotect yourself and your investment.
for the entire year. Incidental costs vary, so youBe sure to post contact information for you, your
may have to rent the property for another fourrepair person and cleaning service in several
weeks to pay for those expenses. Now that youobvious places throughout the residence. Numbers
have the amount you would like to charge,for police, fire and medical services are always a
compare it with other rental prices in yourgood idea. Finally, make sure to designate an
community for a similar property. Pay attention toemergency contact to handle issues if the renters
special amenities, proximity to attractions andcannot reach you.