If you're thinking of selling your vacation property, please visit my real estate site at http://burnsvillenchomes.com/
Thinking of putting your vacation property in our rental program? Here's some basic information you might want to consider:
We're right here in the valley - we live close by, we know this area.
Our commission is 20% based only on the base rent
We provide all our renters with an opportunity to purchase a Vacation Travel Protection policy, which covers air travel costs, medical bills while on vacation, and ensures that the property owner does not lose vacation rental income in the event of a covered cancellation. We collect the fees from the renter, get them the policy, and take care of all fees.
We require each renter to purchase a Security Deposit Waiver, an alternative to the traditional Security deposit. For a small fee, we provide each renter with up to $3000 in coverage for damages that might occur in the home as a result of their occupancy. This means no haggling or harrassing our renter/clients, no responsibility for collecting and refunding traditional security deposits, and for the homeowner, you're covered for up to $3000 accidental damage. If it is more than that, you would need to use your homeowner policy but this would more than cover your deductible.
Posting your vacation rental to various search engines such as Yahoo, Google, and dozens of other sites.
On-line reservation system with secure on-line payment features. This cost me $1200 to set up, and $100 per month, but for you its free.
Rate cards provided to the Yancey County Chamber of Commerce for distribution to the public in Burnsville and via mail to persons inquiring from the YCoC for rental information.
Your private access to the reservation system to manage any dates you want to block for your own use, and manage your own vacation dates ensuring no double bookings.
Managing the maintenance and cleaning of your cabin
Collect sales and occupancy taxes with each rental and remit them as required to the taxing authority.
A monthly report outlining where each dollar came from and where each dollar has gone, and a check by the 10th of the month following the rental period.
Your always welcome to look at my book-keeping. It takes me just a few minutes to copy and past to you portions of my spreadsheet that applies to your account. You can compare it against my end of month reports.
UNIT SPECIFIC ADVERTISING -- We share with you the cost of advertising that is directly related to advertising your home, in the same ration that we benefit. You pay 80% and we pay 20% for the following optional sites (and we're open to other suggested sites that place high in search results) These following sites cost about $200 per year, they are optional:
We collect the full cleaning fee from the renter. You will see all fees in your end of month report. Usually 2 bedrooms is $50, 3 Bedrooms $65, 4 bedrooms $75 and 5 bedrooms $100 per occupancy.
You will reimburse us for repair costs.
Owner provides (or reimburses us) for any maintenance issues that may arise.
During the first year, we establish a small emergency repair fund, usually $200 from the first rental and hold that for emergency repairs. After the first year, depending on how our relationship developes and our confidence in the condition of the unit grows, we may dispense with the fund.
If a repair is necessary for continued operation of a vacation rental (hot water heater stops working, window broken, air-conditioning doesn't work etc) we'll do the work immediately and draw against an emergency fund that you will establish with us.
Above a certain threshold, usually $200, we'll call you and tell you about the problem and if you decide not to go ahead and get the work done, we'll divert your renters to another cabin until the issue is resolved.
If the owner refuses to repair or replace an appliance, or a system in the home that is required to continue the vacation rental operation, we'll discontinue booking renters (and may divert scheduled renters to similar accommodations) into that home and block it in our reservation system until the issue is resolved.
We do one deep cleaning at the beginning of the season, its usually about double a normal cleaning fee, and we take it from the first rental of the period. We may do an additional deep clean if needed at mid-year.
We will winterize your cabin by January 1, depending on weather conditions and bookings. If you have booking solid into mid-January, we'll wait till then. We do not take reservations from Jan 1 to April 30 as the income generated will seldom cover the cost of heat during this period. If we had a ski slope nearby, then maybe we'd change our operation. If you want to stay open all winter, that's up to you, but we highly recommend otherwise. Freeze damage can occur within hours if there is a power failure here in the mountains and/or your heat sytem goes off, or a circuit breaker trips, or you run out of LP gas for your heat system because the trucks couldn't get in because of snow.
We will unwinterize your cabin in late March and try to be ready to open for rentals April 1st.
Reimburse us for paper products and cleaning supplies. You can purchase these items in bulk and stock them in the cabin or we'll supply as needed and draw those amounts from your rental income at the end of the month.
Provide for laundry services -- have a washer and dryer. Alternatively we have one cabin where renters bring their own linens and things, and they clean on their way out. If you don't have laundry facilities, we'll discuss some alternatives.
Reimburse us for referral fees to outside sources such as travel agencies. This comes out of your proceeds, but will be a significant provider of renters. If they are too successful, we raise will then raise our rates.
If you have a vacation rental in this geographical area, we look forward to taking a look at what you have and see if it fits what we feel best reflects the market we're working in.
If this sounds like a program you can trust and rely on, then please give me a call at 828-675-0449, or email me at david@ccvn.com and we'll come sit down with you and see if we can do business together.
