Vacation Home Rental Tips in Orlando, FL

Renting your vacation home away home is growing more popular, as staying in a house with the family offers more room, especially if extended family is vacationing together, and the convenience of cooking meals and laundry come into play.  There are websites that will help owners and renters manage, and some owners take the plunge to DIY the rental process.  Let’s look at some important things all parties need to know. 

 

• - Meet with your insurance agent to make sure you are properly insured for renting out the home.   
• - An accountant can assist you with the financial end of your new venture if you’re not comfortable with handling it yourself. 
• - Taxes can be an issue, depending on your state.  TurboTax offers these tips so you won’t be surprised come tax time. 

• - Find out if your county or city requires you to pay occupancy taxes for your rental, obtain a business license, and/or registering your rental. 
• - Set up an account to accept credit card payments.  Square and PayPal offer free and easy credit card readers, but you must set up an account with the respective website to process the payments. PayPal offers online credit card payments, again, with a registered account. 
• - Make absolute certain the home is safe.  Hire an inspector who can go over every aspect of the house and grounds, then make repairs or upgrades, if necessary. 
• - Unless you live nearby and feel like cleaning the house after the vacationers leave, contract with a cleaning service or insured professional cleaner. 
• - Maintenance is important in case the fridge stops working, or a pipe gets clogged.  Find reputable, licensed handy-people, plumbers, electricians and other service people to meet your needs. 

• - Offering pet-friendly accommodations is up to you--many people like to bring their pets with them but have rules in place for the type of pets allowed, and any special arrangements (like crates for them to sleep in) you prefer. 
• - Is your home handicap accessible?  This is a plus, and you should make sure you note this in your advertising. 
• - Decide if you are going to supply linens, toiletries, and basic cleaning supplies, or if you’ll require the renter to bring their own.  Have a locked closet to store the items if you choose to supply them yourself. 
• - Amenities these days go beyond basic kitchen appliances and a hot tub.  Vacationers need WIFI, multiple television channels, and even a gaming system.  Be sure you’re fully equipped. 
• - Decorating a vacation rental can be tricky. These tips from A Summer Home will help you come up with perfect and practical decor. 

• - Making rules for the tenants is an absolute must.  Find a website that specializes in DIY vacation rental forms, edit the document, and print them for future use. 
• - Security is important!  Make sure any alarms, fire extinguishers, lighting and other measures are functioning properly.  Keyless entry is perfect for vacation rentals, too. 
• - Creating your own marketing can involve obtaining a website domain, as well as managing social media accounts advertising your home. Be sure you screen any inquiries carefully when using social media. Coastal Living offers some great ideas for promoting your rental on the internet. 

 

 

Renting your vacation home involves many aspects, but all can be managed yourself if you have the time and energy.  Sometimes, a property managing company can handle all of it, or allow you to stay involved.  Just keep in mind that you are providing a service, as well as running a business. Owners want to provide a great experience for the family, so make your home part of the great memories they will take home with them. 

 

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Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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