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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
In the course of a year, I probably visit over 100 vacation homes and cottages. Sometimes this is an annual inspection for rental cottages for my management agency; sometimes as part of my consultancy services to owners who are considering renting out their properties, and very occasionally it is in response to a complaint from […]
Making your guests feel welcome when they arrive is the key to creating happy clients who will return and refer their friends. They are more likely to respect your property and to leave it in an as-found condition if you have provided them with some pleasing touches that will enhance their cottage experience. These are […]
There is a natural fear about renting out your cottage paradise for the first time. Wondering how you will feel about strangers using your things, whether they will treat your property with respect, and what your liabilities are, may be questions that need answers before you commit. I spoke to a couple at the Fall […]
If there is one phrase guaranteed to send me into soap box mode, it is ‘It’s just a cottage’. This usually comes from a veteran cottage owner whose property has been in the family for generations and who was brought up with the view that getting away to the cottage was a return to the […]
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