29. September 2011
| by
John
In the economic mindset that most of us find ourselves in nowadays, it may seem that all that matters to consumers is getting the lowest price. But lowering the price of your rental may not necessarily be what your sleepy property needs to transform into a dream vacation. And if you can have the kind of property that people can dream of, then you can have the kind of property that people will rent. Readily. Those of us thinking that travelers are only interested in low price may assume that these cottage dwellers don’t mind “roughing it” if it will save them a buck. But the reality is that these economic times aren’t motivating cottage dwellers to want to “rough it” on their vacations—in contrast, they want to live it up with a little luxury, and escape from their worries. But before the money sign alarms start going off in your head, don’t panic—with cottage rentals, a little sprucin’ up goes a long way. Just a few fine tunings can have both you and your renters whistling all the way home.
TIP: Paint, paint, paint. Though it may seem like an arduous task, it’s a comparatively cheap and easy way to give your property a substantial facelift. Don’t just add a fresh coat—add colour. If you are clueless about what colours to use, ask one of your more aesthetically inclined friends for advice. You don’t need to pay for a decorator—you’d be surprised at how many friends would jump at the opportunity to stop biting their lip and give you advice if you’d only ask!
TIP: Off-season trips are more popular than ever, so if you operate cottage rentals in Ontario you will want to make sure that your cottage will be cozy. Be sure to have lots of extra blankets, as well as sheets and pillows that equal the amount of guests your property can hold. Owners of older properties have to take extra care to ensure that off-season guests won’t need to produce off-the charts heating bills, and will be comfortable during their stay.
TIP: Leave fine chocolates on pillows! People who have just reached their travel destination are in a funny state of mind, and can get very positively or negatively excited by pretty much anything they see. The first thing people do is run into the bedrooms. I used to spend summers at a seaside cottage that would do this, and it became a staple of the trip that we (especially the kids!) looked forwards to every year. For all the excitement that leaving a few chocolates on pillows will cause, it’s well worth the comparatively small investment. It’s the sort of thoughtful gesture that will have guests thinking that your property might be the place to go for repeat stays.
TIP: Leave at least basic cleaning and food staples in the kitchen. This will make guests feel much more at home from the get-go. Kitchens are often the most important room for renters when considering accommodations, and you may want to replace cabinets that are particularly unsavoury. If you can’t take the heat, get out of the kitchen (’cuz your guests probably will want to, too!)—or you can just paint and refinish the cabinets for a cheaper fix. ‘
TIP: Have a Home Guide with a local bottle of wine or basket of local grown foods waiting for your guests when they come in. This will outline fun activities to do in the area, particularities about the property, places to get (especially local-grown) food, contact information, etc. Have a quick survey at the end for renters to fill out at the end of their stay. What pleased them, what could be improved? Not only are you displaying gracious hospitality and attention that renters love, but you may learn some things about your property you didn’t know before.
TIP: Don’t forget the door on your way out. The front door is an especially important feature of your property’s appearance. It may need a fresh coat of paint, and it may even need new door knobs, which are as cheap as $5-10. Even replacing doors is a very inexpensive renovation, and can be done for as little as $20-$30.
Group trips are another trend gaining momentum this year, so make sure your guests have everything they will need to entertain and relax in group settings. Lighting dimmers are a great and cheap way to create a great deal of ambiance for a nice dinner or simply relaxing with drinks. As a final tip for those of you who really want to toss the hotel competition into the river: get as many housecoats as your dwelling can fit guests, because nothing says luxury living more cheaply and easily than housecoats! Put on your favourite one and cozy up to read more tips on how to give your cottage glitz!
