Category: Life at the Shore

And just that fast, it’s time to transition to the next vacation rental season.

Our 2019 Rental Authorizations will be mailed later this week.  I am looking forward to meeting /talking with property owners regarding their plans for next summer.

Tenants often provide suggestions for a more comfortable stay.  This summer, I heard requests for additional reading lamps, more wine glasses, better kitchen knives, complete cable channel package (to watch a Phillies game), and basic supplies of paper products/detergents to get them started.

And as in past years, we face the occasional disconnect between change over cleaning responsibilities and incoming tenant’s expectations.

For example, if the departing tenant does not clean up around the exterior of the property at the end of their stay, the new tenant will be upset with the condition. Specific items not addressed by a cleaning services:  outside showers (left over soap, sand, and shampoo bottles), grill (food remnants on grates and a full drip pan), sliding glass doors (little people finger prints), decks/patios (furniture not organized  and/or covered with sand), and messy trash and recycling cans.

A note left in the house might help-  placed by a side door or in the utility room for best visibility.  And, make it easy for the tenant to clean up:  a nearby hose, an extra broom by the deck or patio, a grill brush, and plenty of trash cans with well fitting lids.

If you have any rental questions, I am happy to help!  609-967-7950  or ann.delaney@timkerrsir.com

First week if August…which means rental properties are starting to feel a bit run down.

The cleaners work hard at change over to prepare the property for the next guest.   However, there are several areas that definitely need attention by August (and are not part of the typical change over cleaning).

It’s helpful if a property owner stops by once or twice a season to assist with the “extras”:

1) Gas grill- the tenants may be willing to scrub the grates with a wire brush, but no one bothers to empty the grease pan underneath. Marinades and meat drippings eventually become a serious fire hazard.

2) Ceiling fans.

3) Return vents and HVAC filters.

4) Outside showers- toss the used soap and scrub the mildew.

5) Deck furniture, and any outside living space- the cleaners don’t sweep outside or wipe off tables, etc.  While there, clean the outside of the sliding glass doors, too.

6) Bathroom drawers- the cleaners may not open the drawers or cabinets in the bathrooms (remnants of hair brush and make-up storage).

7) Trash cans- after weeks of take out seafood and pizza boxes, the cans could use a good rinse with the hose!

Happy to help with any questions regarding your shore rental property.  609-967-7950

Most of our weekly vacation home rentals are Saturday to Saturday.

So when a tenant requests “the first week in August”, I need to clarify if they mean July 28th to August 4th,  or August 4th to the 11th.

By the way, the annual Arts and Crafts Festival is the first FULL weekend in August, so their rental request could be based on that event.

When repeat tenants sign up for next year, their weekly dates shift 1 day earlier.  Long time tenants renting the first week of August will eventually be back in July.  And those renting during the 4th of July week will migrate back to June.

We handle several homes with back to back repeat tenants. So the goal is for everyone to shift 1 week ahead in unison…not an easy task!

It’s not even August, and I’m already working on keeping our tenants happy for 2019 🙂