Renting Your Home on The Forgotten Coast
Do you have a house or condo on the Forgotten Coast that you rent part of the year? Maybe you're new to vacation renting and you're looking for some help. Here's some great information to get you started!
Cape San Blas, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, Mexico Beach... no matter where on the Forgotten Coast your property is located, here's what you need to know to get started with marketing your little piece of paradise to others.
1. Great Photos and Video Make All the Difference!
Having the perfect photos and video of your rental can mean the difference between a booked up summer or being short on the mortgage. The vacation renters of today want to see beautiful photos of the home, location, and landscape, before making booking a place to stay. A professionally filmed and edited marketing video can give your rental a leg up on the others!
2. Decide Where to List Your Rental
With all the different options out there, it can be difficult to decide where you should list your rental property. There are options like VRBO and HomeAway, where you can list your property on their website, but be prepared for service and booking fees, which may put your rental at a disadvantage by increasing the cost to potential renters. Although, some people may prefer the convenience offered by these websites. Another option is a rental company. There are plenty of local rental companies on the Forgotten Coast, so you can choose whichever one fits your needs. You'll probably have to pay the company a fee for their work, but in many cases it's well worth the cost! Finally, your other option is always listing the home or condo yourself. For this option, you can avoid typical fees associated with a rental company, but you'll need to get a good website set up and do your own marketing, or hire an online marketing company (like Media By Michelle) to help.
3. Get to Know the Neighbors
By far, your best resource for information on renting and all of the things that come along with it will be the locals who already have it figured out. People who call the Forgotten Coast home (or their second home), are some of the best people you'll meet. There's nothing like local expertise to help you figure out the best route for you and your rental.