The cottage rental market has been on fire in recent years and more people than ever before are looking to maximize income from their second home investments.
The smart ones are choosing to list their rentals with a professional management company, explains Lacey Wutzke, owner of Host On Demand.
A short-term rental management agency, Host On Demand is proficient at managing booking calendars, facilitating cleaning and maintenance, ongoing guest communication, and setting up, optimizing, and marketing your listing.
More recently, they’ve been asked for their expert opinion on the type of ROI property owners can expect to get from their cottages – often they’re being asked before potential owners make an offer on a property.
“We have a good sense of what the ROI will be and can offer advice for those getting involved in rental properties,” says Lacey.
“We’ve seen a lot more people buying properties as an investment, handing them over to us to manage and we’re setting them up completely from inception,” says Lacey, noting that their commission rate starts at 20 per cent. “We’ll source contractors for renovations, repairs and landscaping; set up interior designers; and then get the property ready, professionally photographed and listed on the travel booking channels.”
Host On Demand lists with high traffic websites AirBNB, VRBO, Expedia and booking.com, which provides exposure to over 360 million unique visitors monthly. They also offer guests and owners the ability to make direct bookings.
They are highly rated as a Superhost on AirBNB and as a Premier Partner on VRBO, with hundreds of great reviews. They have had enormous success filling the rental calendars of their current clientele throughout the seasons.
“Our ratings and industry and area expertise allow us to book at a higher rate than if the owner listed themselves,” says Lacey. “We essentially don’t end up costing owners anything by increasing revenue more than if they try to manage the rental of their property themselves.”
Be ready to rent
Lacey says that if you’re thinking about renting your property, it’s a good idea to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later so you can start earning now.
She notes it can take between four to six weeks to get the property ready to rent, depending on the property. Host on Demand does a thorough job of ensuring the property is in perfect condition inside and out to maximize bookings and optimize revenue.
“If you have a property you would like to rent, let us know and we can give you a free rental income estimate.”
TEXT CHRIS OCCHIUZZI | PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
