The growth of short-term rentals and the increase in supply we have seen lately was something many locals never thought would be common on the Coast. If you search a rental platform, you will find hundreds of options to choose from. The market in our area has come a long way, especially with all the hurdles we’ve faced. When many of us were sorting through flooded homes from Hurricane Katrina, followed by the 2008 housing crisis and spiking insurance costs, people weren’t exactly flocking here to invest. I for one, am glad to see the change.
It’s heartening to see the growth and excitement so many people here are witnessing. I talk to new people daily who either own second homes or vacation rentals here, and they love our Coast. They’ve turned family homes into short-term rentals, or even made a section of their home a short-term rental space. They offer various perks to attract guests. Whether the rental is located on the beach or blocks away, visitors are happy with their stay and ready to return for more. I see guests leave messages in sign-in books every day saying they can’t wait to come back.
When preparing your home for guests, you want to set it up for success. Invest in the important things, like good linens and a working coffee pot. Guests don’t want to sleep on uncomfortable sheets and use paper-thin towels when they’re paying good money for their stay.
Next, hire a great property manager if needed — or at least a local company that can be on call for various needs. Unforeseen situations will arise, including equipment breakdowns.
Having a top-notch cleaning crew also is essential. You want a crew that knows what turnaround cleaning involves. It is not a simple run in, change sheets and run out. It is generally a deep clean every time. We want guests coming to the Coast to feel welcome, and arriving at a sparkling-clean rental is a great way to start their visit on a positive note.
Our Coast is beautiful, and it is so nice driving along the beach at any time of day and enjoying what we sometimes take for granted. Remember that people from around the world come here to enjoy this place, which we are fortunate to call home.
