The island has a different vibe at the end of August.
It’s cooler in the mornings. Quieter in the evenings. Fewer people are walking on the beach.
Those of us who work in tourist related businesses have mixed feelings. We welcome the slower pace, and look forward to the opportunity to enjoy the perks of living by the beach. Yet, there’s still a sense of melancholy.
We say goodbye to our summer friends and neighbors. We look at the calendar and realize there’s a limited time to visit our favorite seasonal restaurants. There’s an urgency to get out on our bike while the weather is so nice!
September is peaceful and often referred to as “the best month at the shore”.
And meanwhile, we also look forward to Memorial Day weekend 2026 đ
The Rental “Business”
My perspective of the vacation rental business is shaped by:
The biggest challenge for short term rentals is cleanliness. Change over cleaners do not have the time to tackle everything, and those normal wear and tear items eventually become a source for complaints.
My husband and I make the effort to personally deep clean every few months. This includes ceiling fans, return vents, under beds, inside the kitchen cabinets/drawers, appliances, bathroom vanities, bedding, blinds, porch furniture, etc.
A grungy shower curtain liner leaves a bad first impression. Likewise, anything broken or chipped.
The detailed cleaning allows us to create a list of items needing repair or replacement. We would rather find the defect and resolve the issue prior to the next guest. This is a “business”, and therefore we look at our amenities from the eyes of our guests. Money spent on updates and replacement items is to be expected.
So to my fellow rental property owners- I understand the frustrations! This pile of sand was from sweeping the kitchen floor on the day of our arrival- after the cleaning service! Yet by the time we left yesterday, I could see the results of our hard work, and expect that the next tenants will notice, too.