0 Shares How Is Your Cottage Packaged? I bought an item yesterday and was eager to open it this morning. With no scissors or knife available, I gave up after fifteen minutes of battling with the packaging, threw the product on the floor and declared it useless. I found it quite a stressful experience and afterwards realised I had a completely different […]
0 Shares Getting Ready for Rental – the Cottage Audit Whether you are a vacation rental owner who has been renting for some time, or new to the the cottage rental business, spring is a busy time preparing for the upcoming rental season. Although my place rents year round and I have honeymooners in there at the moment, I always set aside a week in […]
0 Shares How to Prevent Overcrowding at your Cottage Overcrowding in a rental cottage is a fear for many owners thinking about listing their place for the first time. Most of us have heard the horror stories of a friend or neighbour taking a booking for a couple or small family and then discovering that more people have turned up than expected. This is […]
0 Shares Renting to Family and Friends I got such a great comment on my Renting 101 post that I wanted to deal with it separately because I think it’s an issue many new cottage owners face. This was the comment: "We are first time renters beginning this summer. What are your thoughts on how to deal with immediate family that wish […]
0 Shares Vacation Rental Fire Safety Do you have an open fire or wood stove at the cottage? If so, do you allow your renters to use it? Do you supply clear and concise instructions on its use? Julie Nelson at Cottage Daily highlighted the potential for a mishap in her post Fire Safety at the Cabin – a cautionary tale […]
0 Shares What’s In Your Cottage Guide? f 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 everyone is like […]
0 Shares Does Your Cottage Have A Name? I 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 quite […]
0 Shares 8 Great Ideas for Vacation Home Owners 1 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 […]
0 Shares How to Start Renting our Your Cottage I’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 […]
0 Shares 8 Insider Tips for Vacation Rental Success It’s clear from talking to owners of vacation rental homes that those who have real success with their rentals have more returning guests, and fewer issues with problem renters. What do they do that sets them apart from the competition? Why is it that some properties rent earlier and achieve higher occupancy rates over a […]
