Vacation Rentals by Owner: What to DO

This is for the folks that own beach houses for rent.

Far too often, when my own family takes a vacation to a beach, we are disappointed with what we can find in the way of luxurious beach homes.  Either pickings are slim in the first place, or the photos and description are deceiving.  Since we like to try new places every time we vacation, finding new beaches, the process has become a little bit of trial and error, hit and miss.

This post is an example of what to DO.  (DON'T is coming in a few days, as well as a checklist of things your guests wish you would stock in your beach house).

Owner: Robert Melton  Photos Courtesy of Home Away.  See the full listing here.

I feel pretty confident that this one looks great in the photos AND in real life. 

Wouldn't you be pretty optimistic at this point?

It's the perfect place for my large family, and it would be the perfect place for several families to meet on vacation because there is room to move. What impresses me about this home is that they clearly put in a lot of effort to make it attractive.  They have kept it updated.  I can even respect how they have mixed a rustic look with a bit of a cape cod style here.

Kitchens are important, and should be treated as such. This, sadly, is not always the case.  See the new appliances; the beautiful light fixtures?  This owner has hit the mark!

Ahh the Master Bedroom.  This is the retreat your guests will be searching for when not at the beach.

I am certainly paying attention when I see the details here -- claw foot tub, sconces.  They even went the extra mile with the faucets.


Perhaps if this were the home you lived in all year round, you might fill it a little more. But if you rent it out all year, it's the right amount of "stuff." Your guests will feel that you made an effort to warm the place up a bit, but without clutter. There is still plenty of room for all those suitcases and extra things that will come with the guests.

Now come down the hall this way ...

Because I have another bedroom with a bathroom to show you.  Orange!  I love orange.  I love that they picked something bright to show off their beach house.  It doesn't all have to be light blues and seashells.

I really love the sconces in this bathroom.

Another well-done bath/shower combination, probably on the first level.

 Another brightly done room!

Are you ready to go outside?  Well, this is semi-outside.  This sunroom gives you all the benefits of outside without the bugs and heat.  It even has a hammock.  It's an easy way to make your sunroom unique without breaking the bank.

And now the grand finale ... the pool.  This owner has provided comfortable furniture in a spectacular setting, with plants and ...

An outdoor shower!  I can't quite place where this is from the photos (perhaps down the stairs and around), but it's clearly outdoors.  It's clearly a well-done shower.  I'm impressed.

This set up will convince your guests to come back often, stay longer, and bring friends.

Pride of ownership really shines through in this home, and I predict as long as the owners keep this up, they will have not problem keeping it rented.  Many people own beach homes to vacation in them a few times a year, but face it -- the renting pays the bills and makes it an investment.  DON'T shoot yourself in the foot by expecting your guests to keep returning to a sub-par place.  DO fill it with beautiful things and thoughtful touches.  It will pay off.