4 Ways To Beat The Competition When Trying To Rent Your Cottage

Buying a cottage is the fantasy of many people who are looking for the opportunity to leave the hustle and bustle of city life and try to capture their own bit of paradise.  Contingent on the demand of the area you are interested in you can uncover relatively less expensive properties but this still requires a second mortgage for most.  Add to this the additional running costs of heating, electricity, general maintenance and don't forget the property taxes.  This can be enough to dissuade people from purchasing a cottage but by renting it out you may be able to recoup some of these costs and possibly even turn a small profit.

Problem solved.  Renting absolutely has numerous advantages but make sure you know how to do it properly with these 4 crucial steps.

Make Sure You Are Requesting The Right Rental Price

Finding out the amount you could be asking for your cottage can be difficult particularly if you fail to look at it it at arms length.  If you are looking to do this precisely you will most likely will need the help of a real estate professional but a quick search on the web will give you a good guide.  Compare similar cottages to discover what rents they are receiving.  If you own a waterfront cottages Wasaga Beach would demand higher rents since it is a tourist area. Winter time can also be great a time to earn some pretty good money on your Blue Mountain condo if it is near to the ski hill. If your location is not the best then make certain that it is in excellent condition and be prepared to negotiate.  Each week that your cottage is empty is lost money and the peak time only lasts so long.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words So Take A Lot Of Them

Ensure you are receiving the most from your marketing dollar and that does not mean you have to spend a lot.  Take as many pictures of your cottage as you can.  Digital pictures cost nothing to take and even the camera in most cell phones are good enough.  So why not show potential renters precisely what they should expect.  This can back-up the rate you are requesting and save you time in just responding to genuine inquiries.

You Must Be Found On The Web

Cottage renters could come from just about anywhere and putting and ad in every newspaper would be impossible.  So get a web site or at the very least advertise on a site that specializes in cottage rentals.  Other kinds of advertising cannot compare to the exposure you can get from being on the internet for a very low cost.  And chances are that many other cottages in your region are not properly advertised on-line so you can have a major edge over the competition.

4.  Be Speedy When Responding to Inquiries

You are most likely not the only person receiving phone calls and e-mails regarding your cottage.  The faster you respond the greater your chances are going to be that you rent your place for the rate that you want.  Renting your recreational property is a business and replying fast can give renters confidence in both you and your cottage.

If you commit some time and effort into researching the demand in your region and market your cottage effectively you will be giving yourself the best chance possible of ensuring your cottage is rented throughout the season.