The sparrows were late arrivals again this year. The sight of the small birds lining the electric wires is a sure sign of the changing season. They feast on the bayberries in the dunes, dive bomb into the nearby swimming pools for a drink of water, and then leave a colorful mess on the sidewalks and cars below! Ah, the charm of beach living 😉
I’ve also noticed Goldenrod starting to bloom. These colorful plants are located in the dunes, the bird sanctuary, and along the nature trail to Stone Harbor Point- and attract the migrating Monarch butterflies!
We spent last week in South Carolina handling “landlord duties”.
Our previous trip down was in May, so the condo needed some love and attention!
My rental property owner check list-
Find everything and return to its proper location. This is especially true in the kitchen. Occasionally, I agree with the tenants’ storage solutions and change my organizational plan accordingly.
Sand removal- from dresser drawers, under chair cushions, and even in the freezer.
Dust removal- from ceiling fans, the top of appliances, under beds, return vents, etc.
Laundry- wash all bedding, mattress pads, throw rugs, blankets, and bath mats.
Inventory- we provide sheets and towels, so we have to check on the condition of those items.
Replace- swap out shower curtain liners and add new dishtowels, bath towels, as needed.
Unclutter- thing accumulate from a summer of visitors. Sometimes it’s the bonus of newer “beach books”, but often, it’s items that need to be tossed.
Clean, clean clean- that includes all dishes, pots and pans, glassware, and silverware. I don’t want incoming tenants to find crusty food left behind. This also allows me to check for broken and rusty items that need to be replaced.
Repairs- there’s always something that needs attention.
After all of the hard work, there’s a real sense of satisfaction when finished. I know our incoming fall guests will (hopefully) be happy.
It’s already time to work on the paperwork for NEXT summer!
If you are planning to offer your Avalon or Stone Harbor home for rent in 2024, it makes sense to get an early start.
With the renewal of current listings, I am including the following note (a version of a previous blog post):
Summary of the 2023 rental season:
In the fall of 2022, we were busy confirming the 2023 reservations for repeat tenants. These are the families who return year after year (often to the same home) and are not hesitant about planning almost a full year in advance.
Yet for many tenants, it’s more practical to commit to vacation dates after discussing with family members over the winter holidays. After January, we expect rental inquiries to ramp up to fill in the open weeks.
Unfortunately, 2023 was different.
After years of travel restrictions, summer vacations could now be defined with a broader view.
So was the lower demand in 2023 a blip? Probably. The nostalgia of a traditional beach vacation remains strong.
However, property owners should be aware that pricing is a factor with vacation decisions. Tenants expect value for their hard earned dollar. We need to face that head on as we discuss rates for 2024.
And one last note: the rental market is rarely in sync with the sale market. It’s two different business models. There have been many years when rental rates remained steady, while property values climbed considerably.
I’ve been fortunate to handle Avalon and Stone Harbor vacation rentals for 40+ years. As always, we will adapt and move forward together.
On The Way to Cape May…
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